Time Dimension of the Link between Income Inequality and Health: The Immediate, Cumulative, and Comparative Effects

Lu, Qianyi Sinyee; Yaqiang, Qi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132944 Copy

Description

Title

Time Dimension of the Link between Income Inequality and Health: The Immediate, Cumulative, and Comparative Effects

Author(s)

• Lu, Qianyi Sinyee
• Yaqiang, Qi

Issue Date

2022-04

Keyword(s)

Income inequality; Self-rated health; Time dimensions; Cumulative exposure; Comparative effect

Date of Ingest

2026-02-27T16:38:22-06:00

Abstract

Since Wilkinson proposed the income inequality hypothesis (IIH), the contextual effect of income inequality on individual health has been under extensive examination; however, the results are, at best, mixed. We argue that this is partly because the time dimension of the IIH is poorly understood and has been severely understudied. In this study, we scrutinize the link between income inequality and individual health by demarcating the immediate, cumulative, and comparative effects. Using data from the World Values Survey (1981-2016) longitudinal database, we then test these different dimensions with a multilevel fixed-effect model that controls for cross-national heterogeneity. Results show subtle distinctions among the three time dimensions, and the comparative version of the IIH receives the strongest empirical support. Furthermore, in response to the mixed findings from the literature, we also run grouped regressions by national economic development and find great national variations across development stages. In particular, low-income countries provide strong empirical support for the IIH, while lower-middle-income countries demonstrate a confusing positive link between income inequality and health. We conclude with a brief discussion on possible implications and future directions.

Series/Report Name or Number

Population Association of America (PAA) Annual Meeting Poster Session

Type of Resource

still image

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