The Health of Nations : Towards a New Political Economy

“Why, despite vast resources being expended on health and health care, is there still so much ill health and premature death? Why do massive inequalities in health, both within and between countries, remain? In this devastating critique, internationally renowned health economist Gavin Mooney places the responsibility for these problems firmly at the door of neoliberalism. Mooney analyses how power is exercised both in health-care systems and in society more generally. In doing so, it reveals how too many vested interests hinder efficient and equitable policies to promote healthy populations, while too little is done to address the social determinants of health. Instead, Mooney argues, health services and health policy more generally should be returned to the communities they serve. Taking in a broad range of international case studies - from the UK to the US, South Africa to Cuba - this provocative book places issues of power and politics in health care systems centre stage, making a compelling case for the need to re-evaluate how we approach health care globally.”
Why, despite vast resources being expended on health and health care, is there still so much ill health? Why do massive inequalities in health remain?

The Health of Nations analyzes how power is exercised both in health care systems and in society more generally. It reveals how too many vested interests hinder efficient and equitable policies, while too little is done to address the social determinants of health. Instead, Mooney argues, more health services and health policy should be returned to the communities they serve.

With a broad range of international case studies - from the UK to the US, South Africa to Cuba - this provocative book makes a compelling case for the need to re-evaluate how we approach health care globally.

About the author; More praise for The Health of Nations; Acknowledgements; Preface; PART I / Introduction; Introduction: neoliberalism kills; Map of the book; PART II / Why are things so bad?; 1 Why has the economics of health-care policy gone wrong?; In health care, who decides -- about what?; Current political economy of health care; More observations on current health-care economics; Conclusion; 2 Why have broader policies affecting health been inadequate?; Shifting power; The WHO's Commission on Social Determinants of Health; The state and the market; Conclusion Why, despite the vast resources spent on health care, is there still so much ill health and health inequality? In this devastating critique, internationally renowned health economist Gavin Mooney spotlights the political economy of health care. He also reveals how too little is done to address the social determinants of health. Using numerous case studies, this provocative book makes a compelling case for the need to re-evaluate how we approach health and health care globally The Health of Nations' analyses how power is exercised both in health-care systems and in society more generally. In doing so, it reveals how too many vested interests hinder efficient and equitable policies to promote healthy populations, while too little is done to address the social determinants of health.