Ross et al. - Relation between income inequality and mortality in Canada and in the United States

Arguments

• She compares income inequality and mortality in Canada and the USA and shows that variations in the equality of the income distribution are associated with mortality

• Findings:

  • There are no significant associations between income inequality and mortality in Canada at either the provincial or metropolitan area levels

  • There are significant associations between income inequality and mortality in the US at both the provincial and metropolitan area levels

• Develops 2 hypotheses as to why there is an absence of effect in Canada:

  1. The relation between income inequality and mortality is non-linear → threshold of equality where effects on health decrease

  2. The relation between income inequality and mortality is not universal but instead depends on social and political characteristics specific to place → context matters!