Income inequality and health: a cross-country analysis

Abstract

Using CNEF (Cross National Equivalent File) panel data from Germany, Great Britain and the United States we investigate whether self-reported health at a given age (ages 50,60 and 70) varies systematically with the degree of income inequality at that age and household-size adjusted post-government income at younger ages. We find little evidence that links self-reported health to current income inequality but strong evidence that past income is highly correlated with subsequent self-reported health in all three countries.