The Evolution of Socio-Economic Health Inequalities in Spain: 1987-2001

UPF Working Paper No. 756

25 Pages Posted: 12 Jul 2004

See all articles by Pilar Garcia-Gomez

Pilar Garcia-Gomez

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE)

Ángel López Nicolás

Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Date Written: May 2004

Abstract

This paper reports an analysis of the evolution of income related health inequalities in Spain over the period 1987-2001. We use recently developed methods in order to cardinalise and model self assessed health within a regression framework, decompose the sources of inequality and explain the observed differences between 1987 (one year after the 1986 General Health Act was approved) and 2001 (the latest available representative data on health for the Spanish population). The results show that the period has witnessed a reduction in income related health inequality. The driver of such reduction has been the weakening of the income health gradient, which lends support to the hypothesis that the important health policy reforms implemented over the period have been successful in the objective of reducing socio-economic inequalities in health. Our results also suggest that actions aimed at improving the health of those with low levels of education and of those who are not actively participating in the labor market would lead to further reductions in income related health inequality.

Keywords: Health inequalities, decomposition analysis, Spain

JEL Classification: D63, I12, C21

Suggested Citation

Garcia Gomez, Pilar and López Nicolás, Ángel, The Evolution of Socio-Economic Health Inequalities in Spain: 1987-2001 (May 2004). UPF Working Paper No. 756, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=563845 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.563845

Pilar Garcia Gomez (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands

Ángel López Nicolás

Universitat Pompeu Fabra ( email )

Ramon Trias Fargas 25-27
Barcelona, 08005
Spain
(34-3) 542 27 08 (Phone)
(34-3) 542 17 46 (Fax)

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