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Work, worklessness and the political economy of health inequalities

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Clare Bambra

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Abstract

This essay argues that work, and the socioeconomic class polarities it creates, plays a fundamental role in determining inequalities in the distribution of morbidity and mortality. This is by means of uneven exposure to physical hazards and psychosocial risks in the workplace, as well as by inequalities in exclusion from the labour market and the absence of paid work. Furthermore, this essay shows that the relationships between work, worklessness and health inequalities are influenced by the broader political and economic context in the form of welfare state regimes. This leads to the development of a model of the political economy of health inequalities, and how different types of public policy interventions can mitigate these relationships. This model is then applied to the case of work and worklessness. The essay concludes by arguing that politics matters in the aetiology of health inequalities.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Bambra C

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health

Year: 2011

Volume: 65

Issue: 9

Pages: 746-750

Print publication date: 01/09/2011

Online publication date: 06/08/2011

Date deposited: 05/02/2017

ISSN (print): 0143-005X

ISSN (electronic): 1470-2738

Publisher: BMJ Group

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.102103

DOI: 10.1136/jech.2009.102103

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