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What’s Technology Got to Do With It? Power, Politics, and Health Equity Beyond Technological Triumphalism
Author(s) -
Cortinois Andrea A.,
Birn AnneEmanuelle
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
global policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1758-5899
pISSN - 1758-5880
DOI - 10.1111/1758-5899.12982
Subject(s) - politics , equity (law) , health technology , inequality , power (physics) , social inequality , political science , development economics , economics , political economy , economic growth , health care , mathematical analysis , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , law
In this paper, we critically discuss whether digital technology can address health inequities. We reflect on the role technology plays in support of an economic model that produces increasingly significant socio‐economic inequalities, both within and across countries. We focus in particular on the role that technology plays in deepening the historical North/South chasm, briefly analysing economic, political, social, and cultural implications. We conclude by emphasizing how technology can indeed be a useful tool, but only when it is embedded in popular action or policies that redistribute power and resources.