Articles tagged with Inequalities
A new study of the SOPHIE project reveals that traditional and contradictory family policies in Europe contribute to gender inequalities in health, particularly among women in Southern Europe. The Dual-earner model encourages labor force participation and redistributes caring work, leading to lower health disparities.
A new study suggests that the politically induced decline in worker unions may play a more pivotal role than previously understood in growing income inequality. Unions reduce pay differences within companies and lobby on behalf of the working and middle classes.
A study published in the Journal of Mathematical Economics found that short lives result in big financial losses, comparable to socio-economic gaps. The researchers suggest that individuals who die prematurely may have been better off consuming more earlier in life.
A policy of higher NHS spending in deprived areas is associated with a reduction in absolute health inequalities from causes amenable to healthcare. This trend continues even after adjusting for other factors, suggesting that targeting resources at deprived areas may be an effective strategy.
A new study by Yu Xie reveals growing inequalities in scientific research, with rewards and recognition disproportionately benefiting the wealthy and well-connected. The findings highlight the need to address these disparities to ensure fair access to resources and opportunities for talented scientists of all backgrounds.
Research suggests that when women in developing countries own land, they gain power and are less likely to experience violence. Women use land as a proxy of power, strategically leveraging it to change the power dynamic in their relationships.
Research suggests that people living in societies promoting equality are more likely to donate money than those expecting inequality. When the need is uncontrollable, power distance does not deter charitable behavior, whereas communal relationships lead to a greater sense of responsibility to help others.
A study by UNC Chapel Hill sociologists found that women in mixed-sex startup teams are less likely to hold leadership roles, even when they adopt organizational templates like formal operating agreements. The researchers suggest that cultural expectations and the presence of children at home amplify these inequalities.
A new analytical tool, HANDY, incorporates two new variables into the well-known predator-prey model, reflecting the accumulation of wealth and economic stratification between rich and poor. The model suggests that human societies can reach a sustainable steady state when they do not over-deplete natural resources and avoid extreme eco...
A mathematical model explains how high-rank individuals in hierarchical groups engage in seemingly altruistic behavior by competing with peers in other groups, leading to increased total group effort towards conflict. This behavior is linked to within-group hierarchy and inequality, observed in nature across various species.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimates that health disparities among US African-American and Hispanic men result in $341.8 billion and $115 billion excess medical costs, respectively. The total economic burden is over $450 billion, with indirect costs contributing an additional $436.3 billion.
The study reveals a decrease in global energy inequality, with the distribution of per-capita energy consumption approaching an exponential law. As nations like China move up the curve, energy consumption becomes increasingly concentrated among high-consuming nations.
A new NHS funding formula may prioritize age over deprivation, potentially widening the health gap between north and south. This shift could undermine equal opportunity of access for equal need, with poorer regions facing reduced services.
A new study published in Nature Communications found that wealth inequality can promote cooperation when people are distributed a given total amount of wealth somewhat unequally, rather than fully equally. This is because rich benefactors promote cooperation that benefits themselves and their surroundings, leading to the spread of coop...
The Gerontological Society of America has awarded Markus H. Schafer, Kenneth F. Ferraro, and Sarah A. Mustillo for their innovative publication on aging and life course development, which analyzes the mechanisms of cumulative inequality theory and its relevance to audiences beyond gerontological scholars.
Research by University of Missouri sociologists found that cities with high racial economic inequality and widespread poverty tend to increase their police forces. The study suggests that the perception of threat is influenced by a combination of large inequalities and severe poverty, leading city governments to boost police force size.
New research shows that literacy is a stronger predictor of poor public health than low average income in India. A high literacy rate enables populations to access healthcare and engage with public health programs.
A new method using Petri nets simplifies supervisor control for automated manufacturing systems, reducing deadlocks and improving system throughput. NJIT professor Mengchu Zhou's research proposes removing dependent inequalities to minimize computerized supervisory control time, providing a more efficient solution.
A new study by Tali Kristal suggests that the decline of labor unions is the main reason for the surge in corporate profits and decline in workers' wages. The study found that industries with high unionization rates saw a large decrease in labor's share of income, while lightly unionized industries experienced little change.
A study published in Gaceta Sanitaria found that women are more likely to be prescribed analgesics due to socioeconomic inequality. The researchers used the Gender-related Development Index to analyze prescription patterns in areas with higher and lower gender development indices.
Rice University research finds that professional culture in engineering contributes to gender wage inequality, with women underpaid for technical work and overpaid for social activities. The study highlights the importance of understanding how professional cultures shape judgments of competence and excellence.
French anthropologist Bruno Latour wins the 2013 Holberg International Memorial Prize for his ambitious analysis of modernity. Norwegian economist Ingvild Almås is awarded the Nils Klim Prize for her innovative methods to measure income inequalities.
A recent study published in the American Sociological Review found that winning in competitions such as Emmys or Baseball Hall of Fame induction has no consistent impact on longevity. Instead, researchers suggest that access to resources and opportunities is more crucial for overall health.
Addressing social and economic inequalities among disadvantaged groups is vital to tackle NCDs. Investing in early child development, education, employment, and high-quality healthcare can reduce these inequalities and lower mortality rates.
A study published in Schizophrenia Bulletin found that higher rates of schizophrenia are associated with increased deprivation, population density, and inequality in urban neighborhoods. The research suggests that more equal societies may experience lower rates of serious mental illness.
A recent study published in Psychological Science found that using a specific frame to describe income inequality can influence people's views on redistributive tax policies. Participants who were told that the rich make more than the poor showed less opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy, while those in control conditions and tho...
A new study by University of Leicester researchers found that effective healthcare can reduce health inequalities in England, particularly in reducing death rates from diseases like stroke, heart disease, and cancer. The study discovered that population characteristics such as age and socio-economic deprivation are major factors contri...
Researchers propose an inequality that probes the role of signals in quantum predictions, exposing how they challenge Einstein's theory of relativity. The test, feasible in the near future, will measure a single number, potentially revealing faster-than-light communication or infinitely fast influences.
A new study by American Sociological Association investigates the rise of the top 1 percent and finds that Republican strength in Congress increases their share of income. The study also reveals a significant link between decreased union membership and higher levels of inequality, as well as a strong effect of financial asset bubbles o...
A new study by Dr. Lisa Rosenthal found that social dominance orientation can lead to increased sexual risk-taking and decreased confidence among both men and women, particularly when it comes to using female condoms.
A new study found that moving from high-poverty to lower-poverty neighborhoods increases happiness and well-being in low-income adults, despite not improving economic self-sufficiency. The study suggests that neighborhood income segregation is a key factor in shaping the outcomes of adults in these communities.
Countries prioritizing poorest groups show fastest progress in increasing maternal and child health coverage. Lead author highlights importance of equity in assessing overall coverage progress.
Research shows women participate less than their proportion in groups, but are empowered when decisions are made unanimously. Consensus-building approaches can bring valuable insights and reduce inequality.
A Review published in The Lancet warns that health inequalities in Europe are worsening and calls for urgent action to reduce disparities. The review provides policy recommendations to improve health equality across European countries, regardless of their current status or income.
The author analyzed congressional hearings from 1965 and 2001 to show how policymakers' views on parental involvement have shifted. In the past, parents were seen as part of the problem, while schools were expected to solve issues through extra funding.
Informal social networks play a crucial role in finding jobs, especially high-paying ones, in the US where open market systems prioritize merit over connections. In contrast, Germany sees 40% of jobs filled through informal recruitment, with no apparent link to wages.
A study by Queen Mary University of London found that poorly-educated Americans have less 'quality time' for leisure activities, particularly when spending time with partners or friends. Highly-educated individuals, on the other hand, spend less time off but enjoy better quality leisure experiences.
A new study found that women in countries with high gender inequality are more likely to support authoritarian values, a shift away from beliefs in independence and freedom. This shift helps women cope with a threatening environment.
A recent study published in Psychological Science suggests that when Americans think about choice, they become less concerned with reducing wealth inequalities. The researchers found that a choice-oriented mindset leads people to focus on individual agency and underestimate the role of societal structures in creating wealth disparities.
Research published in BMJ Open finds that stillbirth rates are twice as high among the least well-off in England, with the gap remaining constant over eight years. Socio-economic inequalities in stillbirths by cause have been evident across all causes, including bleeding before birth and congenital abnormalities.
A new study by archaeologists from the Universities of Bristol, Cardiff and Oxford found that Neolithic farmers buried with distinctive stone adzes had access to better land than those without. The analysis revealed sex-biased mobility patterns and status differences among early European populations.
The study reveals a prevalence of 70.4% for contraceptive use during the first sexual encounter among Spanish women, with notable differences observed between regions and socio-economic groups. Factors such as education level and geographical location significantly impact contraceptive use in this context.
A new study published in The Lancet reveals that having several medical conditions is not exclusive to old age, but rather affects people under 65. The UK health system must be radically changed to cope with this scenario, as current approaches can be duplicative and inefficient.
A new study by Ohio State University finds that higher income inequality in the US leads to increased mortality rates over time. The research suggests that income inequality starts affecting mortality rates 5 years later and peaks after 7 years.
Traditional forms of polygamy are inherently unequal due to a central spouse dividing rights and obligations among multiple spouses. Modifications like polyfidelity and molecular marriage could eliminate these inequalities by promoting equal sharing of rights, responsibilities, and benefits among all spouses.
Two Brazilian physicists used statistical mechanics methods to study free market models, finding that wealth distribution follows a power law and concentrates among a few agents. New regulations, such as taxes giving poorer agents a higher probability of wealth gain, may help prevent wealth concentration and decrease inequalities.
Health care coverage in rural China increased dramatically between 1997 and 2006, driven by government interventions. Rural-urban inequality in insurance access decreased significantly during this period, benefiting millions of rural Chinese residents.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that an individual's sexism leads to gender inequality in society, with the largest study to date examining 57 countries. The research suggests that changing individual attitudes is crucial for achieving greater equality.
A study published in the American Journal of Sociology found that individuals lacking personal wealth are significantly less likely to enter into a first marriage. The research suggests that wealth plays an important role in marriage decisions, with owning a car increasing the probability of getting married by 2.6 percentage points.
Increasing investment in early childhood development programmes can generate substantial returns, with potential benefits including long-term growth and reduced inequalities. Effective interventions include home-based and community-based parenting and family support, as well as high-quality preschool education.
A study of 1,625 people across 15 countries found economic inequality is a stronger predictor of self-enhancement than individualism or collectivism. This suggests that competition and unequal resource distribution can lead to increased self-inflation.
A study by Indiana University and Cornell University reveals that overworking is partly responsible for the slowdown in narrowing the gender wage gap. Women face more family obligations, limiting their availability for high-demand occupations, which often require long work hours.
A new study published in the American Sociological Review found that the decline of unions in America is a major contributor to rising wage inequality. Union decline accounts for approximately a fifth of the increase in hourly wage inequality among women and about a third among men, according to the study.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters found that virtual water transfers are unlikely to equalize water use among nations due to existing inequalities. The researchers concluded that the current amount of virtual water is insufficient to overcome these constraints.
A new study from the University of Michigan found that MLB teams that spend more on superstar players tend to win fewer games. The research suggests that if a team wants to maximize profits, it should prioritize paying a few high-caliber players, while prioritizing wins requires a more balanced player distribution.
Brazil's unique national health service has improved health outcomes, but socioeconomic disparities and regional inequalities remain. The authors emphasize the need for coordinated action among government, private sector, academia, and civil society to address these challenges and secure universal access to healthcare.
Two studies published in the Journal of Dental Research found significant income-related inequalities in dental service utilization and tooth loss among Europeans aged 50+ and US adults. Income inequality was associated with higher odds of reporting greater tooth loss, highlighting the need to address social determinants of health.
A recent economic crisis has led to a surge in income inequalities, which have been linked to an increased risk of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. The study highlights the growing gap between socio-economic groups, with lower-income individuals facing a higher risk of mental health issues.
A recent study by Ronni Pavan of the University of Rochester and Nathaniel Baum-Snow found that larger US cities drive growing wage gaps between the rich and poor. The study used U.S. Census data and American Community Surveys from 1980 to 2007, finding that larger metropolitan areas have experienced rapid growth in wages within all sk...
A UT professor's study found that economic inequality increases both the rich and poor becoming more conservative, reducing support for government programs. The study analyzed hundreds of thousands of survey responses from 1952 to 2006, revealing a self-perpetuating phenomenon.