Comparing numerous
measures of population health and wellbeing, it is clear that societies which
tend to do well on one measure tend to do well on all of them, and the ones
which do badly, do badly on all.
The key is the amount of inequality in each society; the more unequal a society is, the more ill health and social problems it has.
Inequality has always been regarded as divisive and socially corrosive. Material inequality serves as a determinant of the scale and importance of social stratification. It increases status insecurity and competition and the prevalence of all the problems associated with relative deprivation. And although inequality has its greatest effect on rates of problems among the poor, its influence extends to almost all income groups: too much inequality reduces levels of well-being among the vast majority of the population.
The key is the amount of inequality in each society; the more unequal a society is, the more ill health and social problems it has.
Inequality has always been regarded as divisive and socially corrosive. Material inequality serves as a determinant of the scale and importance of social stratification. It increases status insecurity and competition and the prevalence of all the problems associated with relative deprivation. And although inequality has its greatest effect on rates of problems among the poor, its influence extends to almost all income groups: too much inequality reduces levels of well-being among the vast majority of the population.