Premium
Inadequate Bivariate Measures of Health Inequality: The Impact of Income Distribution *
Author(s) -
Brekke Kjell Arne,
Kverndokk Snorre
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the scandinavian journal of economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.725
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1467-9442
pISSN - 0347-0520
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9442.2011.01691.x
Subject(s) - bivariate analysis , inequality , socioeconomic status , income distribution , economics , economic inequality , demographic economics , income inequality metrics , causality (physics) , distribution (mathematics) , social inequality , health equity , health care , economic growth , demography , sociology , mathematics , statistics , population , mathematical analysis , physics , quantum mechanics
Bivariate measures of health inequality are influenced by changes in two variables: health and a socioeconomic variable, such as income. For these measures, what is reported as an increase in health inequality might just as well be a reduction in income inequality. In particular, several papers have found that socioeconomic health inequalities in Nordic countries are no less than in other European countries. The correct interpretation could just be that income inequality is no higher in Nordic countries than in the rest of Europe. The problem is especially profound when the causality is running from health to income.