Social-related inequality in health: advancing explanation, measurement, and the policy process

This project focuses on the health inequality that persists in Sweden and other countries, and in particular the major knowledge gaps concerning measurement of and the causal driving forces behind health inequality as well as impact of public policy on health inequality. These gaps represent barriers that prevent decision-makers to design cost-effective policy actions to mitigate the persistent health inequality. The novel approaches underlying this project are mainly based on the combination of behavioral economics, experimental-nonexperimental approaches and interdisciplinary perspectives. We address the mentioned knowledge gaps by focusing on doctors´ decision-making and individuals´ health behavior. We develop structural models using longitudinal data to analyze the causes of the inequality. The project involves econometric modelling, theoretical and development of indexes and decompositions, use of the Swedish high-quality observational data, economic laboratory experiments and field experiments. In the experiments we will use computer-based information systems. This project will uncover knowledge gaps and push forward the research front on health inequality. It will also indicate what is achievable in terms of reduced inequality if appropriate policies were adopted and through what type of actions. Our vision is that this project will result in a major breakthrough in the analysis of health inequality that has puzzled researchers and decision-makers for decades.