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"Advanced" countries’ wealth depends on the appropriation of resources and labour from the global South

A study by Jason Hickel reveals that the global North appropriates vast resources and labor from the global South through price differentials in international trade, resulting in a net drain of $10.8 trillion in 2015. This unsustainable practice perpetuates global inequality and ecological breakdown.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalGlobal Environmental Change·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 22, 2022

BU study: Having assets may protect people from persistent depression during COVID

A new BU study found that individuals with physical, social, and financial assets, particularly higher incomes and fewer savings, were less likely to experience sustained depression during the first year of the pandemic. Persistent depression was highest among people in low-income households and those with fewer savings.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2022

Predictability and meaningfulness of life help tackle long-term poverty

A Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare study found that people's ability to lead their lives, strive for important things, and make decisions supporting well-being is linked to manageable life circumstances, financial resources, sense of belonging, equal opportunities, and experiencing meaning. Social security provides faith in the...

SourceFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare·JournalJournal of Social and Political Psychology·DateFeb 25, 2022

Fighting poverty won’t jeopardize climate goals

According to a new study, lifting over 1 billion people out of poverty worldwide would increase global carbon emissions by 1.6-2.1%. The main reason for this is the huge inequality in carbon footprint between rich and poor nations. Rich countries emit significantly more carbon than poor ones.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 14, 2022

Economic pressure and stress caused by poverty directly impacts children as well as parents

A study led by Yekaterina Chzhen at Trinity College Dublin found that poverty directly affects both children and parents, leading to economic pressure and psychological distress. This challenges mainstream theoretical models of poverty and calls for a more nuanced understanding of the impact of economic hardship on families.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 10, 2022

Open for single workers only? Point-based immigration increases poverty risks for migrant families

A new study by the University of Southampton finds that skilled overseas workers with families face a higher risk of poverty than UK workers and their net incomes are lower under the UK's points-based immigration system. The researchers warn that this could make the UK less attractive for overseas workers who could fill skills gaps.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalJournal of Poverty and Social Justice·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 10, 2022

Study shows link between child poverty and mental health disorders in adulthood

A study by the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort Study for Childhood Psychiatric Disorders found an association between child poverty and externalizing disorders in adolescence and early adulthood. Child poverty was particularly harmful to women, increasing their risk of developing mental health problems and affecting educational attainment.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalEuropean Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 9, 2022

How fuel poverty ‘gets under the skin’

Researchers found that fuel poverty leads to higher levels of inflammation, affecting physical health, and lower life satisfaction, impacting wellbeing outcomes. The study's findings highlight the need for policies to support low-income households struggling with fuel poverty.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalEnergy Economics·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 1, 2022

Poor women in rural India still denied safe hospital births, with maternal deaths at “alarmingly high” levels, study finds

A new study reveals that poor women in rural India are more likely to die during childbirth due to lack of access to safe hospital births. The research found that only 26% of women in low-performing states deliver in hospitals, compared to 87% of those exposed to mass media.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalGlobal Health Action·TypeObservational study·DateDec 16, 2021

The health of homeless people improves with socialisation

A new study from the University of the Basque Country found that social interaction and contact with family members have a significant positive impact on homeless people's perception of their health. Conversely, longer periods of homelessness and reduced social connections are associated with poorer health perceptions.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateDec 3, 2021

Analysis reveals impact of poverty and family adversity on adolescent health

A UK study found that children exposed to persistent poverty and poor parental mental health are at increased risk of socioemotional behavioral problems, cognitive disability, drug experimentation, and obesity. The analysis also identified six trajectories of poverty and family adversity, highlighting the need for interventions address...

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalThe Lancet·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 30, 2021

Police enforcement of New York City COVID-19 mandates reveals racial inequities by zip code

A new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that NYC COVID-19 mandates enforcement mirrored the discretionary nature of the New York stop-and-frisk program, resulting in racialized criminalization and punishment. The use of police to enforce public health mandates increased the risk of COVID spread due to f...

Poverty, racism and the public health crisis in America

Research highlights the intersection of poverty and racism in exacerbating US public health disparities. The US has a high rate of poverty despite collective wealth, disproportionately affecting communities of color. Beech emphasizes the need for policies to increase access to care and address institutionalized racism.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateNov 11, 2021

Poverty in unmarried-parent families: A fresh perspective from Pusan National University

Researchers at Pusan National University and Columbia University reanalyzed poverty estimates in unmarried parent families using the 'Supplemental Poverty Measure' (SPM), accounting for specific criteria. The analysis revealed significant drops in poverty rates over time, particularly for single-mother families.

SourcePusan National University·JournalPopulation Research and Policy Review·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 2, 2021

Measuring financial and digital literacy in vulnerable populations

A new approach to measuring financial and digital literacy is proposed by a team of researchers led by Angela Lyons. The study finds that while promoting literacy is important, it may not be enough to ensure resilience, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and those living in poverty.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalEmerging Markets Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2021

Penn researchers to study the impact of environmental and economic interventions on reducing health disparities in Black Philadelphia neighborhoods with nearly $10 million grant

The study will assess the impact of environmental and economic interventions on health and well-being in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Researchers will enroll 720 adults, half receiving the proposed interventions, and evaluate their overall health and wellbeing, as well as violent crime rates.

Medicaid expansion closed health gaps for low-income adults across racial and ethnic groups, study shows

A new study from the University of Michigan finds that Medicaid expansion in Michigan has significantly improved access to regular healthcare services for low-income adults across various racial and ethnic groups. By 2018, 83% of Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees reported having a regular doctor's office, with notable increases seen amon...

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalHealth Affairs·TypeSurvey·DateOct 4, 2021

Overcoming challenges to global child and adolescent health

A special issue of PLOS Medicine explores the social determinants of child and adolescent health, including poverty, pollution, and violence. The studies focus on the intersection of child health and challenging environments, highlighting urgent redirective strategies to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 28, 2021

Can sustainability standards effectively mitigate food system challenges?

A new study reviews sustainability standards for crop and livestock production, finding moderate positive effects on the environment through reduced agrichemical use. However, economic benefits vary by region and standard, and assessments are complicated. The study also raises concerns about labor practices and inequalities in the rura...

Race, not job, predicts economic outcomes for black households

Research from Duke University's Samuel DuBois Cook Center for Social Equity found that Black households lost more wealth than white families during the decade-long economic recovery following the Great Recession. The study also showed that Black working-class families remained in the worst overall economic position, entering the COVID-...

SourceDuke University·JournalThe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 17, 2021

Low-poverty US communities may eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 but high-poverty communities may lag behind

A predictive model estimated that cervical cancer may be eliminated in the US by 2030 in low-poverty areas, but not until 2044 in high-poverty areas. Health care disparities are a major contributor to these disparities, including lower vaccination rates and higher prevalence of cancer-causing HPV types.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention·DateSep 9, 2021

New study on COVID-19 vaccinations in the largest US cities finds stark inequities

A new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health reveals stark racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in COVID-19 vaccination rates across neighborhoods in the largest US cities. High-vaccination neighborhoods were predominantly white with fewer people of color, higher incomes, and lower poverty rates.

New study shows rundown neighborhoods not slated to go into a steep decline

A new study from the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center shows that physical disorder in Detroit doesn't lead to a steep increase in violent crime. The study's findings suggest that community-driven efforts to rebuild and remake rundown neighborhoods can be effective in reducing disorder and fear.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalThe British Journal of Criminology·DateAug 27, 2021

17-year study of children associates poverty with smaller, slower-growing subcortical regions

A 17-year study found that children who experienced poverty in preschool had smaller volumes of certain subcortical brain regions, including the hippocampus and thalamus. The researchers also found that these children showed slower growth in these regions over time, leading to poorer cognitive and behavioral outcomes in adulthood.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·TypeObservational study·DateAug 11, 2021

Residential mobility is key social determinant of health in people with spinal cord injury

Researchers found that one in four people with spinal cord injury relocated over a five-year period, often to high-poverty areas, increasing health risks. The study highlights the importance of considering residential mobility as a key social determinant of health for this population.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 9, 2021

Barriers to voting in elections linked to increased odds of being uninsured

A study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that voting restrictions are associated with an increased risk of being uninsured. The study analyzed data from 242,727 adults in the US and found that those who face barriers to voting are also less likely to have health insurance.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Americas·DateAug 3, 2021

A sleep study’s eye-opening findings

A recent study conducted by MIT economists found that increasing nighttime sleep had no positive effects on work productivity, earnings, or overall sense of well-being among low-income workers in Chennai, India. However, short daytime naps did show significant improvements in these areas.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 29, 2021

Financial hardship and voter turnout

Financial hardship significantly affects voter turnout among the poor in Germany, resulting in a 5 percentage point drop in voting intentions and actual turnout. The study analyzed over 1,000 elections and found that short-term financial difficulties lead to increased stress and alienation from politics.

SourceWZB Berlin Social Science Center·JournalAmerican Political Science Review·DateJul 15, 2021

Populist anti-foreign aid rhetoric has an impact on the public - but only among fans of populist politicians, study shows

A new study by A. Burcu Bayram and Catarina Thomson found that international aid institutions should not be worried about the impact of populism on global development cooperation. Those wanting to convince the public about foreign aid should focus on transparent communication and local partnerships.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalInternational Studies Quarterly·DateJul 8, 2021