Punching above their weight: a network to understand broader determinants of increasing life expectancy
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Life expectancy initially improves rapidly with economic development but then tails off. Yet, at any
level of economic development, some countries do better, and some worse, than expected – they either punch
above or below their weight. Why this is the case has been previously researched but no full explanation of the
complexity of this phenomenon is available.
NEW RESEARCH NETWORK: In order to advance understanding, the newly formed Punching Above Their Weight
Research Network has developed a model to frame future research. It provides for consideration of the following
INFLUENCES WITHIN A COUNTRY: political and institutional context and history; economic and social policies; scope for
democratic participation; extent of health promoting policies affecting socio-economic inequities; gender roles and
power dynamics; the extent of civil society activity and disease burdens.
CONCLUSION: Further research using this framework has considerable potential to advance effective policies to
advance health and equity.
Description
Keywords
Life expectancy, Health equity, Social determinants of health, Politics of health, Gender equity, Civil society, Health improvement
Citation
Baum, F. et al. (2018). Punching above their weight: a network to understand broader determinants of increasing life expectancy. International Journal for Equity in Health, 17: 117