HEALTH AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

The aim of this paper is to analyse socio-economic inequalities in the European Union and their influence on health care. The empirical analysis is based mainly on data from the European Community Household Panel which contains data homogeneous across European Union countries and make comparisons possible. In addition, the functional form of the relationship between income and health, considering the impact of socioeconomic status among individuals whose medical needs are similar, is studied.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND HEALTH: EVIDENCE FROM THE ECHP

In this paper, the effects of socioeconomic characteristics (gender, age, education level, marital status, income, occupational and health status, household size and social relationships) on individuals´ health status in Spain from 1994 to 2001 are analysed. The estimations are carried out using ordered probit models and new data from the whole waves of the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) have been used. The results indicate that personal characteristics, education level, income as well as health status and social relationships have strong influence on self-assessed health.

Obesity and socio-economic inequalities in spain: evidence from the ECHP

This paper explores the relationship between obesity, measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI), and socio-demographic characteristics in Spain. Empirical work is based on data from the European Community Household Panel (ECHP). The results obtained through probit models show that factors such as age, education, marital status, health status and some economic data are relevant in explaining whether an individual is obese or not.ECHP.

Trends in income inequality in the European Union: implications for health inequalities

The comparative analysis of income inequality across countries has acquired increasing importance in recent years. This paper is divided in two parts. The first one is focused on the analysis of income inequality in the European Union. To carry out this task, we use different models based on Lorenz curves and quantiles functions and different equivalence scales. The European Community Household Panel Data are used. The second part of the paper is focused on explaining the differences in income and health inequalities across European countries. In particular several hypotheses concerning the economic determinants of health inequalities are studied. KEY WORDS Income inequality, Lorenz curves, quantile functions, equivalence scales, European Community Household Panel, health inequalities

Income Inequality Rankings for Different Equivalence Scales and Population Health

This paper is divided in two parts. The first one is dedicated to analyse the inequality of the income distribution in Spain during the convergence process to the European Monetary Union. To carry out this task, we propose two robust models based on the quantile functions. Specifically, we use the Gamma and Beta quantile functions. The income inequality in Spain and the sensitivity of the results for different equivalence scales are analysed using the data corresponding to the first five waves (1994-1998) of the European Community Household Panel (ECHP). This survey contains data on individuals and households and the information is homogeneous across European countries. The second part of the paper is dedicated to study the correlation between income inequality and one of the most important health indicators such as life expectancy. We will try to add new perspectives to conventional studies of health inequalities. With this aim we will focus on relations between socio-economic factors and health of the individuals. In conclusion, this analysis seems to confirm the results obtained in previous researches. Income distribution has significant effects on health indicators. Although we can not confirm that the social capital is highly related with health, at least it is an important factor which helps to explain it. Key words: Inequality, social capital, health, European Community Household Panel

Local government debt: an application to the Spanish case

For the last years, Europe has been subject to fiscal austerity in order to satisfy the Maastrich criteria. In this way, Spanish municipalities have been affected by new regulations and local government structure has changed. This paper is focused on the main factors that explain local government debt. In particular, budgetary information of a group of Spanish municipalities is used (1990-2000). Econometric analysis of cross section and panel data are presented. Key words:Fiscal Federalism, Local Government, debt, decentralization.

Socio-economic status and health: evidence from the ECHP

In this paper, the effects of socioeconomic characteristics (gender, age, education level, marital status, income, occupational and health status, household size and social relationships) on individuals' health status in spain from 1994 to 2001 are analysed. The estimations are carried out using ordered probit models and new data from de whole waves of the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) have been used. The results indicate that personal characteristics, education level, income as well as health status and social relationships have strong influence on shelf-assessed health

Analysing health limitations in Spain: an empirical approach based on the european community household panel

During the last years, policy makers have shown an increasing interest in social inclusion issues and reintegration policies for people with disabilities. However, disabled people are at a high risk of being unemployed. This paper is focused on labour market status of those individuals reporting “non-hampered in daily activities by a chronic or mental health problem, illness or disability”, using currently available data from large-scale representative surveys. In particular, we have used the information contained in the European Community Household Panel (ECHP)

The associations between suicides, economic conditions and social isolation: insights from Spain

Suicide is among the main challenges that need to be addressed in developed countries. In this paper, we analyse suicides across the 17 Spanish regions over the period 2014-2019. More precisely, our objective is to re-study the determinants of suicides focusing on the latest economic expansion period. We use count panel data models and sex stratification. A range of aggregate socioeconomic regional-level factors have been identified. Our empirical results show that: (1) a socioeconomic urban-rural suicide gaps exist; (2) there are significant gender differences, for the women a Mediterranean suicide pattern appears whereas unemployment levels have a significant importance for men, (3) social isolation factors, when significant, they show an (a priori) surprisingly positive result. We provide new highlights for suicide prevention in Spain. Precisely, it is highlighted that jointly policies by gender and attending to vulnerable groups are both necessary

Obesity and socio-economic inequalities in Spain: evidence from the ECHP.

This paper explores the relationship between obesity, measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI), and socio-demographic characteristics in Spain. Empirical work is based on data from the European Community Household Panel (ECHP). The results obtained through probit models show that factors such as age, education, marital status, health status and some economic data are relevant in explaining whether an individual is obese or not