Inequalities in Life and Death What If Britain Were More Equal?

This follow up report to Death in Britain (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1997) - a study of changes in death inequalities from the 1950s to the 1990s - contains further evidence of the widening geographical gap in mortality in Britain, but shows how this gap might be narrowed through social and economic policies. The Death in Britain report claimed that Britain was failing to reach Target One of the World Health Organisation - to reduce inequalities in health by 2000. Inequalities in life and death provides conclusive evidence that Britain has failed to reach that target and argues that this failure need not continue. The report presents research which shows what the effect on mortality would be, in terms of actual numbers of lives saved, if full employment were achieved, child poverty eradicated and material inequalities reduced. The geographical analyses are primarily based on parliamentary constituencies. Inequalities in life and death: illustrates and explains Britain's changing geographical pattern of mortality; explains the role played by age, gender, social class and employment status in producing geographical inequalities in mortality; explains the impact of changes in social injustice throughout the 1980s and 1990s; demonstrates the potential impact of current policy in tackling health inequalities. The evidence is clearly portrayed with extensive use of full-colour maps and graphs. This report is essential reading for policy makers, academics and all those interested in reducing inequalities, particularly with respect to health policy.