Application of the Political Economy to Rural Health Disparities (SpringerBriefs in Public Health)

This thought-provoking monograph analyzes the longstanding political and economic structures underlying entrenched health inequities in rural areas worldwide. Bypassing familiar data on the subject, it critiques existing approaches to why core social determinants of health are underrepresented in rural communities, and synthesizes knowledge from health behaviors to spatial politics to make creative, equitable suggestions for intervention. The author reviews classic economic and current sociopolitical theory to pinpoint governments’ decision-making processes behind resource allocation as they translate into poor service access, service quality, and health outcomes. In reply, corrective policy measures are recommended to address these conditions at the root-cause level, in keeping with global goals of improved health for all. Included in the coverage: · Rural health disparities: the political economy. · Rural health disparities: the economic argument. · Social disorganization in rural communities. · Rural health disparities and social disorder: public policy responses. · The political economy: an era of institutional cynicism? With its forceful argument for dealing with a growing but often invisible crisis, __Application of the Political Economy to Rural Health Disparities__ makes a significant text for graduate and undergraduate programs in public and international affairs, planning and public policy, public health, public administration, and economics. Public health and advocacy organizations will also benefit from the book’s vision. "This thought-provoking monograph analyzes the longstanding political and economic structures underlying entrenched health inequities in rural areas worldwide. Bypassing familiar data on the subject, it critiques existing approaches to why core social determinants of health are underrepresented in rural communities, and synthesizes knowledge from health behaviors to spatial politics to make creative, equitable suggestions for intervention. The author reviews classic economic and current sociopolitical theory to pinpoint governments' decision-making processes behind resource allocation as they translate into poor service access, service quality, and health outcomes. In reply, corrective policy measures are recommended to address these conditions at the root-cause level, in keeping with global goals of improved health for all. Included in the coverage: · Rural health disparities: the political economy. · Rural health disparities: the economic argument. · Social disorganization in rural communities. · Rural health disparities and social disorder: public policy responses. · The political economy: an era of institutional cynicism? With its forceful argument for dealing with a growing but often invisible crisis, Application of the Political Economy to Rural Health Disparities makes a significant text for graduate and undergraduate programs in public and international affairs, planning and public policy, public health, public administration, and economics. Public health and advocacy organizations will also benefit from the book's vision. ." -- Prové de l'editor Preface 6 Dedication 7 Introduction 8 Reference 9 Contents 10 Chapter 1: Rural Health Disparities: The Political Economy 11 Political Economy of Geography 14 Political Economy of Health 16 Justification: Political Economy and Rural Health Disparities 17 References 18 Chapter 2: Rural Health Disparities: The Economic Argument 19 Unemployment 19 Education 21 Poverty 22 Income Inequality 23 Conclusion 25 References 25 Chapter 3: Social Disorganization in Rural Communities 28 Population Loss 28 Rural Crime and Social Disorganization Theory 29 Incarceration Rates: Rural-Urban Divide 31 Health Disparities in Prisoners 32 Capitalism in the Criminal Justice System 33 Conclusion: Political Economy, Capitalism, Health and Rural Crime 35 References 36 Chapter 4: Political Economy in the Era of Trump Politics 39 Immigration Reform 40 Background 40 Trump Agenda 41 Impact on Rural America 42 Prison Industrial Complex: Revisited 43 Impact on Rural America 45 Personal Protection and Affordable Care Act 45 Background 45 Trump’s Agenda 46 Impact on Rural America 47 Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program 48 Background 48 Trump Agenda 48 Impact on Rural America 48 Tax Reform Policy 49 Background 49 Trump Agenda 50 Impact on Rural America 50 Trump Governance: Schumpeterian or Keynesian? 50 References 52 Chapter 5: Conclusion: Political Economy: An Era of Institutional Cynicism? 55 Index 57 Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Rural Health Disparities: The Political Economy (Monica M. Taylor)....Pages 1-8 Rural Health Disparities: The Economic Argument (Monica M. Taylor)....Pages 9-17 Social Disorganization in Rural Communities (Monica M. Taylor)....Pages 19-29 Political Economy in the Era of Trump Politics (Monica M. Taylor)....Pages 31-46 Conclusion: Political Economy: An Era of Institutional Cynicism? (Monica M. Taylor)....Pages 47-48 Back Matter ....Pages 49-50