causes of health/wealth inequality (20)

Introduction

Individualism might be the main cause of health and wealth inequality. However, other factors, such as government policies, and poverty, are also to blame.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Smoking and Vaping

Point and Explain

One of the negative lifestyle choices that can cause serious health inequality is smoking and vaping.

Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness in the UK. The number of people vaping also has the potential to increase health inequality in the UK.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Smoking and Vaping

Example

For example, every year 55000 people in the UK die from smoking, but many people also live with smoking-related illnesses. And, being smoke-free can prevent at least 15 types of cancer.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Smoking and Vaping

Argument

However, evidence has shown that smoking is not as simple as an individual’s choice. And young people with parents who smoke are more exposed to smoking behaviors and find it harder to quit.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Smoking and Vaping

Analysis

As a result, smoking and vaping might be as much an individual choice, as a forced lifestyle. It is an extremely addictive product, and has a huge impact on people health.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Poor diet

Point and Explain

Furthermore, Scots also face health inequality because of their poor diet. Many people who are overweight or obese often have long standing problems with their health. If they overdo it with fast food, salty snacks or fail to properly exercise, it leads to increased risks of obesity.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Poor diet

Example

For example, 67% of adults have overweight, including obesity.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Poor diet

Argument

However, we should remember that people living on lower incomes or in poverty often have a much poorer quality of diet because of their limited spending opportunities. Those with low incomes are often forced to purchase food that is processed, salty, frozen, or pre-prepared instead of more expensive fresh produce or organic choices.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Poor diet

Analysis

As a result of a poor diet and lack of exercise, individuals face lots of physical health problems, and even mental health problems, due to fat shaming, discrimination and unemployment.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Binge Drinking

Point and Explain

One key life style choice that has an negative impact on health is binge drinking.

Millions of British people have a carefree attitude to alcohol which includes drinking to excess despite the many health risks that come with binge drinking. By ignoring warnings about responsible levels of drinking, individuals risk their own health.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Binge Drinking

Example

For example, Scotland continues to have the highest alcohol-specific death rate of the UK countries in 2022. Only 19% of people in Scotland say they are non-drinkers.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Binge Drinking

Analysis

The impact of an individual choosing to engage in excessive drinking is mostly their physical health state. However it is not always an individual choice, binge drinking is mostly an addiction, that is really hard to quit, as it is normalised in our society. Poverty not only may impact health through leading an unhealthy lifestyle, but also because of psychological stresses. For example, depression and heavy drinking have a mutually reinforcing relationship, meaning that either condition increases a person's chances of experiencing the other. Alcohol can also contribute to the worsening of symptoms of many mental health problems.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Binge Drinking

Conclusion

Overall, drinking may be an individual's choice as much as a learned habit, an addiction or a way to reduce stress. Sometimes for people with addiction or mental health problems heavy drinking is a need, and their believe it will help them, stops them from quitting.

Cause 1 - Individualism, lifestyle choices causing health inequality

Conclusion

Overall, in conclusion, people in more deprived areas are more likely to drink, smoke and have poor diet, it might be as much individual choice, as a lifestyle caused by external factors such as forced habit, an addiction or a way to 'reduce stress'.

Cause 2 - Individualism, poor lifestyle choices causing wealth inequality

Using "buy now, pay later"

Point and Explain

“Buy now, pay later" has become a normalized way of purchasing in 2024, with companies such as Klarna and Clearpay offering people the chance to spread out their payments until much later dates.

Cause 2 - Individualism, poor lifestyle choices causing wealth inequality

Using "buy now, pay later"

Example

For example, around 15 million customers use financing services like Klarna.

Cause 2 - Individualism, poor lifestyle choices causing wealth inequality

Using "buy now, pay later"

Argument

However, a recent survey shows that people are encouraged to buy things just because they can, without realizing it, and many believe they might not spend as much money without this option.

Cause 2 - Individualism, poor lifestyle choices causing wealth inequality

Using "buy now, pay later"

Example 2

For example, shoppers who use ‘buy now, pay later’ spend 51% more money on clothes than those who don't.

Cause 2 - Individualism, poor lifestyle choices causing wealth inequality

Using "buy now, pay later"

Analysis

As a result, buy now pay later service might be effective from time to time, providing things we need right away, however the fact that lots of people risk going into having debts they cannot pay back, spending money they don't currently have, causing them huge financial struggles, and making getting credit in the future extremely hard, makes this service ineffective and financially dangerous.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Cutting fuel payments

Point and Explain

Government policies have a significant impact on personal wealth and can contribute significantly to economic inequality, as individuals do not control how these laws are made but will still feel the financial impact.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Cutting fuel payments

Example

For example, in 2024, the Labour government made a controversial decision to cut the universal winter fuel payment, which gives every pensioner help to deal with rising fuel bills, up to £300. Six million pensioners will no longer be eligible for this payment.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Cutting fuel payments

Analysis

As a result of this policy, pensioners will struggle to pay for essentials. If people need to pay for winter fuel, they won't have money for as much food, rent, or anything extra. This will increase wealth inequality and create more poverty in the country, which means one of the causes of inequality depends on the government and is not an individual choice.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Cutting free school meals

Point and Explain

Furthermore, another government policy that has had a negative impact on family income is the Scottish Government's decision to suspend their promise of free school meals for all P6 and P7 pupils.

In September 2024, the FM, John Swinney, explained that this promise was too expensive to honor, which now leaves many families having to find money to pay for lunches for their kids.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Cutting free school meals

Example

For example, in Falkirk Council, a school meal for a P6 or P7 pupil costs £2.70, which adds up to £500 for a year's worth of everyday school meals. For some families, this would be difficult to afford.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Cutting free school meals

Analysis

This clearly shows that UK government policies affect many individuals and families. Making the wealth inequality gap bigger, by adding more expenses, they make it much harder for people to provide enough for themselves.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Low wages - poverty

Point and Explain

In the UK millions of households struggle to make ends meet even if they are in work.

Since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, Britain has gone through a cost of living crisis where food and energy prices have risen sharply, but wages have not kept up which pushes more people towards the poverty line.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Low wages - poverty

Example

Millions of people, their income in the UK would need to double to escape poverty, new reports warns. Low wages and underpay issues have pushed 900,000 UK children into poverty, report finds.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Low wages - poverty

Analysis

As a result of the UK cost-of-living crisis, it's hard for people to stay out of poverty as even working full time is often not enough to provide for necessaries, especially if you are a single parent.

Cause 3 - External reasons why people suffer wealth inequality

Low wages - poverty

Furthermore

Furthermore, 6 out of 14 millions people in the UK are in deep poverty, and even 55% of those 8 million in poverty work.

Cause 4 - External reasons why people suffer health inequality

Geographical location

Point and Explain

Where a person is born or lives is also another key factor in health inequality in Scotland. In areas with higher poverty, unemployment, and crime, people in these areas are more likely to suffer from poor physical and mental health. Life expectancy is also much lower for people in these areas, according to the Scottish Government's own statistics.

Cause 4 - External reasons why people suffer health inequality

Geographical location

Example

For example, according to government data, men in Glasgow, Scotland's most deprived council, have a life expectancy of around 72, while men in the neighbouring council of East Renfrewshire, the wealthiest, will live until around 80.

Cause 4 - External reasons why people suffer health inequality

Geographical location

Analysis

This clearly shows that location and environment directly affect a person's mental and physical health, as well as life expectancy. People from more deprived areas have a lower life expectancy, as they may face stresses such as struggling to pay rent, eating healthy, or working low-paid jobs. However, they cannot change their environment by moving because they simply do not have finances to do so.

Conclusion

Overall, in conclusion, individualism is mostly not the main cause of social inequality. As people face external reasons they cannot change at the time, such as geographical location, government policies, poverty, and forced/gained habits.