Wennemo I. Infant mortality, public policy and inequality - a comparison of 18 industrialised countries 1950-85. Sociology of Health and Illness 1993; 15: 429-46.

Another study by a sociologist looking at the relationship. Data used come from the Luxembourg Income Study. She questions the data for Germany, which appears to be an outlier, and does the analysis with and without Germany. Wilkinson points out below, that the data she used for Germany were in fact wrong. She concludes that high levels of universal family benefits are linked to relatively low rates of infant mortality. Public policy supporting the social rights of parents and unemployed are seen to be beneficial.

Abstract

Using new comparative data bases this paper examines whether infant mortality rates in industrialised nations are affected by public policies and income inequality. Particular attention is given to the role of the level of economic development, public policy and the distribution of economic resources. The study shows that the level of economic development has a strong, but decreasing impact on the infant mortality rate. Income inequality and relative poverty rates appear to be of greater importance for the variation in infant mortality rates than the level of economic development between rich countries. Levels of unemployment and of social security benefits seems to affect the infant mortality rate; the combination of high unemployment and low unemployment benefits seems to be associated with particularly high mortality rates. A high level of family benefits is also associated with low infant mortality rates.

Keywords

• economic growth
• education
• Gini coefficient
• gross national product
• income
• income distribution
• income inequality
• inequality
• infant mortality
• international
• life expectancy
• mortality
• population health
• unemployment