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

Titus Galama and Hans van Kippersluis
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Hans van Kippersluis: Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands

No 13-076/V, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute

Abstract: This discussion paper resulted in a chapter in: (Pedro Rosa Dias and Owen O’Donnell (eds)) 'Research on Economic Inequality' , Volume 21: Health and Inequality, Emerald Group Publishing, 2013.

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 the Grossman model (1972a;b) 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 Capital Models; Health Inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-06-03
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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Related works:
Chapter: 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:tin:wpaper:20130076

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