*2017 ESPAnet Conference - Stream 17: Health and social exclusion*
*14th-16th September 2017, Lisbon, Portugal*
Plenty of evidence exists on the connection between health outcomes and socioeconomic status: there is a strong social gradient in health, meaning that people with lower socioeconomic status have poorer health than people with higher socioeconomic status. Many studies have contributed to our understanding whether poor health causes lower incomes or leads to unemployment (social selection) or, if lower socioeconomic status leads to worse health outcomes (social causation). Alternatively, a third factor, e.g. risky behavior, could cause both poor health and low socioeconomic status.
Understanding the connection between health and various forms of social exclusion is important for designing better policies that promote better health and help to build an inclusive society. Studies on this topic can
illustrate whether so-called social investment policies (e.g. health promotion, education, active labour market policies) are necessary in some cases or whether a general improvement of living conditions among the
socially excluded (e.g. social benefits) will be more effective.
In this stream we would like to discuss the importance of health in the analysis of social policies and various social outcomes. Studies focusing both on social selection and social causation are welcomed, and could
address the following questions: Are there differences between countries or social groups in the extent to which health plays a role in the social exclusion process or how e.g. unemployment affects one’s health status?
What institutional factors or policy instruments could reduce the risk of bad health among socially excluded?
This stream invites empirical papers that 1) explore the connection between health and aspects of social exclusion (poverty, dropping out of school, unemployment etc.), 2) try to understand the mechanisms that link health with social exclusion, or 3) analyze policies that are effective in downplaying the role of health in social exclusion process or the impact of social exclusion on health outcomes.
*Stream conveners:*
- *Maria Vaalavuo, *PhD, Centre for Health and Social Economics, National Institute for Health and Welfare
- *Iben Nørup, *PhD*, *Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University
*Dealine 15 March 2017*
*Full conference details can be found at: ESPAnet Conference 2017
Full details of the streams can be found at: ESPAnet 2017 - Streams
*Submission of abstracts can be found at: ESPAnet 2017 - Submission of abstracts
