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Neoliberal globalisation and health in a time of economic crisis

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Abstract

The 2008 global financial crisis has been one of the outcomes of more than three decades of neoliberal globalisation policies. These reforms, implemented by the international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation, under the pressure of wealthy nations and transnational corporations, have also produced negative health effects. The advent of these economic measures since the late 1970s and early 1980s coincided, in fact, with reduced worldwide gains in both economic growth and life expectancy. They also have generated larger economic and health gaps between and within countries. This article reviews the major bodies of evidence on the multiple links between neoliberal globalisation policies, economic inequalities and health. It also discusses the future prospects for global health in light of contemporary policy responses to the crisis by national governments and the G-20.

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Acknowledgements

Roberto De Vogli is supported by a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (RES-070-27-0034). The article was developed from a keynote presentation at the last Congress of the European Society for Health and Medical Sociology, Ghent (Belgium) on 28 August 2010.

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De Vogli, R. Neoliberal globalisation and health in a time of economic crisis. Soc Theory Health 9, 311–325 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1057/sth.2011.16

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