How does money influence health? – summary

Summary

People in disadvantaged circumstances have poorer health at most ages, though the reasons are debated. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the links between low living standards and health problems were easy to see – poor housing and sanitation, malnourishment and hazardous jobs led to infectious diseases, health problems and injuries. Even with today’s improved living standards, a graded association remains: increased income equates to better health. This project reviews theories from 272 wide-ranging papers on how income affects health.