Brief Report - (2025) Volume 13, Issue 1
Received: 01-Jan-2025, Manuscript No. economics-25-172307;
Editor assigned: 03-Jan-2025, Pre QC No. P-172307;
Reviewed: 17-Jan-2025, QC No. Q-172307;
Revised: 22-Jan-2025, Manuscript No. R-172307;
Published:
29-Jan-2025
, DOI: 10.37421/2375-4389.2025.13.503
Citation: Alvarez, Sofia. ”Economic Inequality’s Widespread Societal Consequence.” J Glob Econ 13 (2025):503.
Copyright: © 2025 Alvarez S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
This study explores how economic inequality in European nations affects individuals' self-rated health, particularly exploring differences across gender and age groups. The findings suggest that higher economic inequality correlates with poorer self-rated health, with distinct patterns observed for younger adults and women. This implies that policies addressing economic disparities could also improve population health outcomes[1] This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the relationship between income inequality and mental health outcomes. It consolidates evidence from numerous studies, concluding that higher income inequality is significantly associated with worse mental health at both individual and societal levels. The findings highlight the critical role of economic policies in promoting public mental well-being[2] This systematic review explores the complex interplay between childhood socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and persistent economic inequality. It synthesizes evidence demonstrating how early life disparities in resources and opportunities contribute to educational gaps, which in turn perpetuate cycles of economic inequality across generations. The study emphasizes the need for early interventions to foster greater equity[3] This study investigates the relationship between global wealth inequality and excess mortality rates across 190 countries. The findings reveal a significant association where higher levels of wealth inequality are linked to increased excess mortality, suggesting that extreme disparities in wealth have profound negative consequences on public health and life expectancy worldwide. It underscores the urgency of addressing global wealth distribution[4] This paper explores the intersection of digital inclusion and economic inequality as crucial social determinants of health globally. It argues that unequal access to digital technologies exacerbates existing economic disparities, leading to worse health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations. The study advocates for policies that bridge the digital divide to promote equitable health and economic opportunities[5] This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of various social protection interventions in reducing both health inequity and economic inequality. The evidence suggests that well-designed social protection programs, such as cash transfers and unemployment benefits, can significantly mitigate the adverse effects of economic disparities on health, ultimately fostering more equitable societies[6] This cross-national study investigates the association between income inequality and life expectancy across OECD countries from 2000 to 2019. It identifies a consistent negative relationship, indicating that higher income inequality is linked to lower life expectancy, even after controlling for various economic factors. The findings underscore the importance of policies aimed at reducing income disparities to improve overall population health and longevity[7] This global assessment examines the intricate link between socioeconomic inequality and vulnerability to climate change impacts. It demonstrates that populations in regions with high socioeconomic disparities are disproportionately affected by climate hazards due to limited resources for adaptation and recovery. The research highlights the critical need for equitable climate policies that address underlying social and economic inequalities[8] This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes evidence on the relationship between income inequality and social capital. The findings indicate that higher income inequality is consistently associated with lower levels of social capital, including reduced trust, civic participation, and community engagement. This suggests that economic disparities erode the social fabric of communities, hindering collective action and overall societal well-being[9] This global study examines how economic inequality influences access to essential healthcare services. The research reveals that greater economic disparities within and between countries are associated with significant barriers to healthcare access, particularly for marginalized populations. The findings highlight the necessity of equitable economic policies to ensure universal access to healthcare and reduce health disparities[10]
Economic inequality stands as a pervasive global challenge, profoundly affecting various dimensions of human well-being, most notably health outcomes. Research indicates a clear connection between higher economic disparities and poorer self-rated health, with particular vulnerabilities observed among younger adults and women in European countries [1]. Expanding on this, a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis confirms that increased income inequality is significantly associated with worse mental health, impacting individuals and societies alike and underscoring the vital role of economic policies in fostering mental well-being [2]. Furthermore, global wealth inequality directly correlates with higher excess mortality rates across numerous countries, signaling the severe public health repercussions of extreme wealth concentration [4]. The repercussions extend to basic longevity, as studies reveal a consistent negative relationship between income inequality and lower life expectancy, even after accounting for other economic factors, particularly evident in OECD nations [7]. These findings collectively highlight that economic stratification does not just reflect financial differences but translates into tangible, adverse health consequences across populations.
The roots of persistent economic inequality often trace back to early life circumstances. A systematic review demonstrates that childhood socioeconomic status and educational attainment are intricately linked, with disparities in early life resources contributing to educational gaps that perpetuate cycles of economic inequality across generations. This underscores the critical need for early interventions to promote greater equity from foundational stages [3]. Beyond these foundational elements, the modern digital landscape introduces new layers of disparity. Unequal access to digital technologies exacerbates existing economic divides, leading to worsened health outcomes, particularly for already vulnerable populations. Policies bridging this digital divide are essential for fostering equitable health and economic opportunities globally [5].
The influence of economic inequality extends beyond individual and direct health metrics to impact the very fabric of society. High socioeconomic disparities are shown to heighten vulnerability to climate change impacts, as regions with greater inequality often lack the resources needed for effective adaptation and recovery from climate hazards. This emphasizes the urgent need for equitable climate policies that address underlying social and economic inequalities [8]. Moreover, the social cohesion within communities is also undermined. A systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that higher income inequality is consistently associated with lower levels of social capital, manifesting as reduced trust, civic participation, and community engagement. This erosion of social capital hinders collective action and overall societal well-being, making communities less resilient [9].
Given these wide-ranging adverse effects, deliberate policy interventions are crucial for mitigating economic inequality and its cascading consequences. Research highlights that greater economic disparities within and between countries are directly associated with significant barriers to accessing essential healthcare services, especially for marginalized groups. This reinforces the necessity of equitable economic policies to ensure universal healthcare access and reduce health disparities worldwide [10]. Encouragingly, evidence suggests that well-designed social protection programs, such as cash transfers and unemployment benefits, can significantly mitigate the adverse effects of economic disparities on health, fostering more equitable societies. These interventions demonstrate a clear pathway to not only reduce health inequity but also address economic inequality directly [6]. Ultimately, a multifaceted approach combining early childhood interventions, digital inclusion initiatives, comprehensive social safety nets, and equitable climate policies is imperative to counteract the deep-seated and far-reaching impacts of economic inequality on global health and societal stability.
Economic inequality significantly impacts various aspects of human well-being, particularly health outcomes and social stability. Studies consistently show that higher economic disparities correlate with poorer self-rated health, affecting younger adults and women more distinctly. Income inequality is linked to worse mental health at both individual and societal levels, underscoring the importance of economic policies for public well-being. The perpetuation of economic inequality across generations often stems from early life disparities in socioeconomic status and educational attainment. Globally, wealth inequality is associated with increased excess mortality, highlighting the severe public health consequences of extreme wealth concentration. Digital inclusion is another critical factor; unequal access to digital technologies amplifies existing economic disparities, leading to worse health for vulnerable populations. Social protection interventions, such as cash transfers and unemployment benefits, prove effective in mitigating health inequity and economic inequality. Income inequality also has a consistent negative relationship with life expectancy, even in developed OECD countries. Beyond health, socioeconomic inequality exacerbates vulnerability to climate change impacts, as regions with high disparities have limited adaptation resources. Furthermore, income inequality erodes social capital, reducing trust, civic participation, and community engagement, thereby hindering collective action. Ultimately, greater economic disparities create significant barriers to accessing essential healthcare services, especially for marginalized groups. Addressing these multifaceted aspects of inequality through equitable policies and interventions is crucial for improving population health, fostering social cohesion, and building resilient societies.
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