Kawachi I, Levine S, Miller M, Lasch K, Amick III B. Income inequality and life expectancy - theory, research, and policy. Society and Health Working Paper Series No. 94-2; Boston: Harvard School of Public Health, 1994.

This wide ranging discussion paper looks at general theories investigating the income distribution life expectancy relationship, and describes the historical evolution of the concept. It describes various potential pathways and mechanisms for inequality to affect life expectancy, and considers the effect of various economic policy changes. Most of the important issues are considered, and presage significant research conducted since then. 

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Keywords

behavioral factors, civic society, community, confounding, Eastern Europe, ecological studies, economic growth, Gini coefficient, gross national product, health inequalities, height, hierarchy, homicide, hopelessness, income, income distribution, income inequality, inequality, infant mortality, international, labor, life expectancy, material deprivation, medical care, mental illness, mortality, neighborhoods, population health, poverty, psychosocial factors, race, redistribution, regional, relative deprivation, risk factor, social capital, social class, social cohesion, social networks, social stratification, socioeconomic status, stress, structural violence, suicide, unemployment,violence, violent crime, wealth inequality, welfare