lecture recording on 25 February 2025 at 13.44.33 PM

Income and Daily Spending

• Analyzing annual income can help determine a daily budget.

• For college students, the recommended figure of $41.20 per day often feels insufficient against their living costs (dorms, food, tuition, etc.).

• The financial perspective highlights disparities between individuals in varying economic settings globally.

Global Poverty Trends

• Global trends indicate a decrease in absolute poverty since 1990, despite a temporary increase post-COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

• $2.15/day international poverty line is critiqued as too low, prompting the existence of two additional lines:

  • $3.65/day for lower middle-income countries in 2022; approximately 2 billion people (25% of global population) live below this line.

  • $6.85/day for upper middle-income countries; about 4 billion people (47% of the global population) are below this threshold.

• The higher poverty lines provide a more realistic measure of poverty across diverse economies.

Changing Economic Conditions Over Time

• Examination of economic data reveals a slower decline in poverty rates when adjusted for living expenses in middle-income contexts as compared to absolute poverty metrics.

• Recent data shows marked increases in poverty levels above the $6.85/day line post-2019.

Social Determinants of Health in Canada

• Video content emphasizes the impact of social determinants of health on the Canadian population:

  • Conditions of life (income, housing, education) significantly influence health outcomes.

  • Discrimination impacts access to resources, reinforcing inequities.

  • Inequities contribute to health disparities, evidenced by higher rates of diabetes and mental health issues among lower-income Canadians.

Food Security and Housing Inequities

• Certain groups (First Nations, Black and Latin American Canadians) face higher food insecurity rates.

• New immigrants often struggle with inadequate and unaffordable housing compared to non-immigrants.

• Historical policies contributing to current inequities affect Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Addressing Inequities

• Solutions recommended include improving housing quality, education, and economic opportunities, especially for marginalized communities.

  • Specific strategies for Indigenous peoples as outlined in reconciliation reports.

Michael Marmot’s Analysis on Health Inequality

• Marmot’s Report highlights the substantial difference in life expectancy within wealthy countries, indicating that inequity impacts not only the poor but also the middle class.

• The links between economic resources, health outcomes, and social structures require comprehensive understanding and action to reduce inequalities.

Major Concepts from Marmot's Presentation

• Inequality, not just poverty, plays a critical role in health and well-being.

• Conditions of daily life are integral to health, making all sectors related to health.

• The future well-being of children in high-resource settings is contingent upon addressing economic disparities.

Whitehall Studies Insight

• These studies correlate job grade and health in a civil service context, showing a trend where higher grades result in better health outcomes.

Key Findings

• Stress from adverse circumstances contributes negatively to health, particularly evident in longitudinal studies.

• Support for expectant and new parents leads to better long-term health for children.

Importance of Education

• Emphasizes deficits in education contribute to health disparities, making access to quality education more critical in wealthier nations.

• Closing the socio-economic gap requires robust policy changes targeted at improving living and working conditions for disadvantaged populations.