Income Inequality and Population Health: Examining the Role of Social Policy

Studies of the relationship between income inequality and life expectancy often speculate about the role of policy, but direct empirical research is limited. Drawing on the neo-materialist perspective, we examine whether the longitudinal association between income inequality and life expectancy is m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health and social behavior 2023-03, Vol.64 (1), p.2-20
Main Authors: McFarland, Michael J., Hill, Terrence D., Montez, Jennifer Karas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Health disparities
Humans
Income
Income inequality
Liberalism
Life Expectancy
Life span
New York
Population Health
Public Policy
Social behavior
Social policy
Socioeconomic Factors
Socioeconomics
States
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Summary:Studies of the relationship between income inequality and life expectancy often speculate about the role of policy, but direct empirical research is limited. Drawing on the neo-materialist perspective, we examine whether the longitudinal association between income inequality and life expectancy is mediated and moderated by policy liberalism in U.S. states (2000–2014). More liberal policy contexts are characterized by greater efforts to regulate the economy, redistribute income, and protect vulnerable groups and lesser efforts to penalize deviant social behavior. We find that state-level income inequality is inversely associated with policy liberalism and life expectancy. The association between income inequality and life expectancy was not mediated by policy liberalism but was moderated by it. The association is attenuated in states with more liberal policy contexts, supporting the neo-materialist perspective. This finding illustrates how states like New York and California (with liberal policy contexts) can exhibit high income inequality and high life expectancy.
ISSN:0022-1465
2150-6000
DOI:10.1177/00221465221109202