Economic Freedom and Sex Health Gap in the E.U

Abstract

Inequalities between women and men do not concern only the economic sphere. This may have effects also on people’s health and the sex health gap. Using economic freedom as a proxy of liberal economic policies, this manuscript analyses their impact on the sex health gap in the European Union. Results show a complex picture: liberal policies are favourable to women in some domains of the health sphere, while being harmful in others. Policymakers should carefully evaluate their interventions, also in terms of sex health gap, before enacting them.

Keywords: sex health gap, liberal policies, European Union, economic freedom