Research on the impact of growing income and wealth inequality on health in the U.S.

The Foundation's Investigator Awards in Health Policy Research Program was designed to produce major works from senior and new investigators that would add to the health policy field's knowledge base. Under this Program, a number of highly qualified individuals will undertake studies that will: (1) explore the underlying values, historical evaluation, and interplay among the social, economic, and political forces that have shaped health, health care, and health policy in the United States; (2) apply new perspectives from a variety of disciplines to analyze the underlying principles, organization, and functions of the health care and public health systems; (3) analyze social and economic factors that influence the population's health; (4) develop innovative ideas that hold promise for improving the performance of the health care system; and (5) explore the policy significance of existing studies concerning the functioning of the health care system and its participants. This study is designed to assess the impact of growing income and wealth inequality on health in the United States. The key objectives are: (1) to establish the empirical relationship between growing economic inequality and health; (2) to understand better the mechanisms through which economic inequalities affect health; and (3) to identify the implications for public policy.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $218,251.00

Awarded on: 1/27/1998

Time frame: 2/1/1998 - 12/31/2002

Grant Number: 33661