Health Inequalities through the Lens of Health-Capital Theory: Issues, Solutions, and Future Directions

Titus Galama and Hans van Kippersluis

A chapter in Health and Inequality, 2013, vol. 21, pp 263-284 from Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Abstract: We explore what health-capital theory has to offer in terms of informing and directing research into health inequality. We argue that economic theory can help in identifying mechanisms through which specific socioeconomic indicators and health interact. Our reading of the literature, and our own work, leads us to conclude that non-degenerate versions of theGrossman (1972a, 1972b)model and its extensions can explain many salient stylized facts on health inequalities. Yet, further development is required in at least two directions. First, a childhood phase needs to be incorporated, in recognition of the importance of childhood endowments and investments in the determination of later-life socioeconomic and health outcomes. Second, a unified theory of joint investment in skill (or human) capital and in health capital could provide a basis for a theory of the relationship between education and health.

Keywords: Health; inequality; socioeconomic status; human capital theory; D91; I12; I14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Related works:
Working Paper: Health Inequalities through the Lens of Health Capital Theory Issues, Solutions, and Future Directions (2013)
Working Paper: Health Inequalities through the Lens of Health Capital Theory: Issues, Solutions, and Future Directions (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:reinzz:s1049-2585(2013)0000021013

DOI: 10.1108/S1049-2585(2013)0000021013

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