Social and Economic Policies Matter for Health Equity: Conclusions of the SOPHIE Project

International Journal of Health Services
Volume 48, Issue 3, 2018, Pages 417-434

Social and Economic Policies Matter for Health Equity: Conclusions of the SOPHIE Project (Article)

Malmusi D.* , Muntaner C. , Borrell C. , Suhrcke M. , O’Campo P. , Julià M. , Melis G. , Palència L. , Bosáková L. , Toffolutti V. , Bacigalupe A. , Mitchell C. , Freiler A. , Vanroelen C. , Tarafa G. , Ollé-Espluga L. , Sánchez E. , Artazcoz L. , Vinberg S. , Benach J. , Gelormino E. , Tabasso M. , Kunst A. , Costa G. , Camprubí L. , Díaz F. , Bosch J. , Salvador M. , Hagqvist E. , Puig-Barrachina V. , Pérez G. , Dzurova D. , Belak A. , SOPHIE investigators

^a Ajuntament de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health, Barceloa, Catalonia, Spain, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
^b University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
^c CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health, Barceloa, Catalonia, Spain, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Agencia de Salut Publica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Abstract

Since 2011, the SOPHIE project has accumulated evidence regarding the influence of social and economic policies on population health levels, as well as on health inequalities according to socioeconomic position, gender, and immigrant status. Through comparative analyses and evaluation case studies across Europe, SOPHIE has shown how these health inequalities vary according to contexts in macroeconomics, social protection, labor market, built environment, housing, gender equity, and immigrant integration and may be reduced by equity-oriented policies in these fields. These studies can help public health and social justice advocates to build a strong case for fairer social and economic policies that will lead to the reduction of health inequalities that most governments have included among their policy goals. In this article, we summarize the main findings and policy implications of the SOPHIE project and the lessons learned on civil society participation in research and results communication. © The Author(s) 2018.

Author Keywords

realist methods social policy health equity social inequalities in health

Index Keywords

social justice immigrant health equity population health social policy Europe economic policy human housing civil society socioeconomic conditions male female Article gender equity government market public health

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048858048&doi=10.1177%2f0020731418779954&partnerID=40&md5=325bdd30271a5941976ac3768b64a687

DOI: 10.1177/0020731418779954

ISSN: 00207314

Original Language: English