Articles tagged with Inequalities
Experts warn that rising inequality is a major contributor to global problems such as populism, climate change and social instability. Decades of research have shown that tackling structural determinants of health can reduce health inequalities, but progress has been slow.
Recent investments in Delhi's health care have failed to improve access to effective care, with crushing poverty and inequalities hindering progress. The city's high rates of premature deaths from causes such as septicemia and tuberculosis are a concern, highlighting the need for increased public health spending and policy changes.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that peace brings people together in Scandinavian countries, while groups band together against other groups for a united cause in conflict-ridden war zones. In countries with a mix of indigenous and immigrant populations, intergroup relations are more challenging, leading to ambivalent stereotypes...
A new study by a University of Kansas professor suggests that parental financial support for education is associated with higher socioeconomic outcomes, including income and wealth. Young adults from families in the top quarter of the wealth distribution received over eleven times more money for school than those in the bottom half.
A study on rhesus macaques found that low-status animals exhibit greater antibacterial responses, while high-status animals have stronger antiviral responses. Social subordination stress influences immune-related gene expression in low-status individuals.
A special edition of the International Journal for Equity in Health examines Brazil's improved access to medical care and highlights areas where health inequalities persist. The study finds disparities in healthy life expectancy, chronic diseases, mental health care, and violence across different regions and socioeconomic groups.
A recent study by NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development found that youth are more civically engaged in unequal counties, with higher rates of volunteering and importance placed on helping others. This contradicts research among adults, which shows lower civic engagement in areas of greater income inequality.
A new study from Ohio State University found that political factors, particularly presidential administrations, are the primary drivers of rising income inequality in the US. The research used IRS data to analyze economic and political factors contributing to inequality over 33 years.
A study found that defined-contribution retirement plans increase socioeconomic factors like education and income levels on pension savings, creating an income and education gap. Less educated people save an average of 26% less annually than those with higher education, which could exacerbate future economic inequality.
A new study found that immigrant parents detained in private facilities are nearly 60% less likely to receive visits from their children. The researchers analyzed survey data from 462 detainees with children, who were predominantly male and Hispanic, and had spent six months to over 4.5 years in detention.
According to new data, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in 12 European countries. The study reveals significant regional disparities, with higher mortality rates from cardiovascular disease seen in Eastern Europe and non-EU countries.
Research by Queen Mary University of London found that private sector contracts in Scotland led to a decrease in NHS provision and an increase in age-related and socioeconomic treatment inequalities. Patients aged 85 years and over, as well as those living in the most deprived areas, were disproportionately affected.
An expert argues that economic inequality and austerity, not immigration, are the root causes of worsening health and declining living standards in Britain. The UK's public spending cuts have led to a decrease in education and training funding, increasing student loans and debt.
A Harvard study reveals that wealthier Americans are getting significantly more healthcare than middle-class and poor individuals, reversing a long-term trend of increased equality. The wealthiest fifth of Americans now consume 43% more healthcare than the poorest fifth, while middle-income people receive 23% less care.
A new report by Advancement Project and the University of California, Riverside reveals stark racial disparities in political participation in California. The study finds that people of color make up the majority of the state's population but face significant barriers to engaging in democracy, including lower rates of voter turnout, co...
A new equation has been developed to predict happiness based on an individual's own experiences and the fortunes of those around them. The study found that people are less happy if others get more or less than them, but this varies from person to person.
A University of Liverpool study found the NHS Health Check programme is not supporting the UK population's cardiovascular health. Researchers suggest a new strategy combining structural interventions with screening in deprived areas could maximize effectiveness and equity.
A new study dispels the notion that millionaires are highly mobile, finding they are reluctant to move for tax benefits. The study reveals that only about 12,000 millionaires change states annually, and family responsibilities are a key factor limiting migration among top-income earners.
A new study by Eric Akobeng reveals that international remittances have a significant impact on reducing poverty and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings suggest a 10% increase in remittances as share of GDP leads to a decline in the number of people living on less than $1.25 per day, extreme poverty, and inequality.
A University of Michigan study found that women prefer smaller competition sizes, which may contribute to pay gaps and the underrepresentation of women in certain fields. Women feel more comfortable in smaller groups, where communal behaviors are more normative.
Research finds that women adjust their fashion choices to fit in with wealthy groups, adopting local trends when moving to higher SES cities but ignoring them in lower SES cities. This 'trickle down conformity' is driven by a deep human urge for status and social standing.
A study by the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that having a first-class cabin increases air rage incidents nearly four times more than a nine-hour flight delay. Economy passengers who pass through first class are also more likely to exhibit bad behavior.
A recent study published in The British Medical Journal found that deprived patients and those admitted at weekends are least likely to receive the recommended total hip replacement surgery. Despite national guidelines setting out who should get the procedure, substantial variation in compliance between hospitals was observed.
A new NYU Steinhardt study reveals growing income-based gaps in college attendance and completion, but decreasing gaps in high school graduation rates. The research suggests that rising income inequality may be making it harder for low-income students to get ahead, particularly in accessing four-year colleges.
Recent studies show a decrease in mortality rates among children and young adults in the poorest US counties, with improved healthcare, food, and nutrition programs likely contributing to these reductions. Life expectancy at birth differs by poverty level, with richer counties showing stronger increases.
Researchers have observed Bell correlations for the first time in a large system of 480 atoms, indicating that properties may exist independently but not deterministically. This finding opens up new possibilities in quantum technology and basic research.
A new study by Janet Currie and colleagues reveals a decline in mortality inequality among poor children up to age 20, with improvements most pronounced in poorer counties. This finding suggests that the life expectancy gap is likely to continue decreasing as younger generations form the future US population.
A new study reveals that minority groups, particularly blacks and Hispanics, experienced significant declines in homicide victimization rates from 1990-2010. The drops were more pronounced for these groups than for whites, with black-white and Hispanic-black gaps narrowing by 40% and 55%, respectively.
Economic conditions have caused significant increases in financial inequality among older Americans over the past three decades. Inequality is higher after age 64, especially after 74, compared to traditional working years. Middle-aged and older individuals face a difficult future due to the disappearance of well-paying jobs and pensions.
Research suggests that minimum unit pricing (MUP) and volumetric taxation are more effective in reducing health inequalities compared to other tax options. These policies target cheap, high-strength alcohol and can lead to significant decreases in mortality rates among lower-income groups.
A researcher from Iowa State University found that social justice education initiatives often overlook the experiences of privileged students. Katy Swalwell's study reveals that affluent students may not be disturbed by what they're learning about injustice, instead focusing on how to use their privilege to make a difference.
A study published in The BMJ found that Americans do not have better teeth than the English, with higher rates of missing teeth and poorer oral health reporting. The US also experiences wider educational and income-related oral health inequalities compared to England.
A European study reveals alcohol-related conditions significantly contribute to socioeconomic inequality in total mortality among men in some countries. Rates of alcohol-related mortality are highest in individuals with less education or manual occupations across 17 European countries. The disparities are particularly pronounced in Eas...
Democracy faces challenges from polarization and increasing inequalities, argues Charles Taylor. Michael J. Sandel warns of the corrosive effect of neoliberal ideology, which disengages citizens from public affairs. Rebuilding a shared civic life is also crucial, according to both thinkers.
A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland developed methods to obtain indicators for tree size inequality using lidar technology. The researchers created maps of several study areas in Finland and Spain, identifying various structural properties of forests and evaluating different types of forest management regimes. These f...
A study published in Educational Researcher found that unequal access to rigorous mathematics content exacerbates the gap in performance on international math literacy tests. The study revealed that nearly a third of the relationship between socioeconomic status and math literacy in the US is due to inequalities in math coverage.
A new study reveals that England has made significant progress in improving its health outcomes compared to other wealthy countries. However, the research also exposes persistent health disparities within English regions, with little change in the gap between the most and least deprived areas over the past 23 years.
A study by Eric Maskin and Michael Kremer finds that globalization has increased income inequality in poor countries by widening the gap between low- and high-skilled workers. Increasing education levels of low-skilled workers is proposed as a solution to address this issue.
Annual tobacco tax increases in New Zealand are projected to lead to significant health gains and cost savings, particularly among indigenous populations. The study found that Māori populations would experience a 3.7 fold increase in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) compared to non-Māori populations.
Researchers at University of Rochester find that a classical beam of light can fail Bell's Inequality test if entangled, suggesting that the boundary between quantum and classical worlds is not as clear-cut as thought. The study reveals that some features of the real world require entanglement, a key ingredient of quantum physics.
Research reveals higher mortality rates associated with poverty levels, with significant variation among urban areas. The study analyzed nine causes of death and a socioeconomic deprivation index in 15 European cities.
A new study predicts life expectancy will increase for men from 79.5 to 85.7 years and for women from 83.3 to 87.6 years by 2030. Regional inequality in life expectancy is expected to rise, highlighting the need to help deprived districts catch up with affluent areas.
Life expectancy in England and Wales is projected to increase by 6.5 years for men and 7.4 years for women between 2012 and 2030, with the gap between the top and bottom 1% of life expectancies expected to rise by 1.8 years for men and 2.5 years for women.
Research by University of Montreal demographers reveals that socio-economic inequalities among First Nations communities drive migration patterns in Canada. Main reasons for migration include pursuing education, finding work, and seeking better health and living conditions.
A report by University of Montreal researcher Yves Carrière finds that delaying retirement eligibility will widen disparities among older adults. This policy change is expected to disproportionately affect those with lower incomes, who will be more reliant on private savings for support.
A study by Jin Goh and Judith Hall found that men who display benevolent sexism are perceived as more approachable, warmer, and friendlier, while those with hostile sexism are less friendly. The researchers also discovered that men with benevolent sexism use positive emotional words and are more patient, despite appearing harmless.
Studies examine how subjective attitudes toward inequality influence ideological positions, with findings suggesting that low-status individuals may withdraw from the political system due to self-evaluative processes. Additionally, research reveals that lack of awareness of income inequality can lead to punishment of poorer individuals.
Scientists found that stress increases competitive confidence in people with low anxiety, while decreasing it in those with high anxiety. This suggests that stress is a cause of social inequality, rather than just a consequence.
The proposed SDGs lack clear, measurable targets, posing challenges to achieving policy objectives. The report highlights the need for better integration and interlinking of goals to avoid trade-offs and unintended consequences.
A global study found that socioeconomic differences in adolescent mental and physical health increased between 2002 and 2010, with poorer youth more likely to be less active, have larger BMI, and report more symptoms. The study highlights urgent action needed to tackle inequities in adolescent health.
Research found significant disparities in mental and physical health of 11-15 year olds between affluent and disadvantaged youths. The study suggests that addressing socioeconomic inequalities is crucial for population health.
According to new research, nearly 70% of Americans will experience at least one year in the top 20% of income earners by age 60, while only 11% will spend time among the top 1%. The study also highlights persistent racial inequality and the relatively low percentage of people who stay in the top echelon for a decade.
A recent University of Luxembourg study analyzed European Social Survey data and found no direct link between income inequality and general trust. Key factors influencing trust include beliefs about a society's intrinsic values and perceptions of socio-economic events.
A new study analyzes the World Economic Forum's impact by conducting in-depth interviews with Davos delegates. The study reveals that Davos delegates shift the burden of solving problems from governments and corporations to individual consumers, incurring significant personal and societal costs.
A new study by MIT scholars finds that immigrants from Latin America are less likely to have their labor certification requests granted, with only 67% of applications approved. However, when the US government audits applications using detailed supporting documentation, the disparity disappears, suggesting a potential remedy.
A new study found that child-mortality rates declined the fastest among the poorest families in developing countries, resulting in a narrowing gap between wealth groups. The study also identified four factors contributing to this convergence: government effectiveness, rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
A team of researchers from Université de Genève and Hungarian Academy of Sciences disproves Asher Peres's conjecture that the weakest form of quantum entanglement can never result in the strongest manifestation of nonlocality. They find a counter-example using numerical algorithms, showing bound entanglement can violate Bell's inequality.
A new study published in Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences suggests that American citizens desire an unequal but more equal distribution of wealth and income. Lower levels of inequality are associated with decreased unethical behavior and increased motivation, while high levels lead to demotivation and negative per...
The study reveals that the US and UK have higher internal inequality rates compared to some developing countries. Despite international trade reducing inequality footprints in many developed nations, these two countries remain exceptions.
Researchers found that the brain's reward centre activates more for fair income distribution, regardless of individual contributions. The study challenges previous findings on inequality and fairness, providing new insights into human behavior.