Whether we look at regional, national or even global data, we always find that income and health are unequally distributed: some of us are rich, while others are poor; some of us live long and healthy lives, while others suffer and die young. We also know that income and health tend to be positively correlated, in such a way that higher income levels are often associated with better health outcomes, a phenomenon often referred to as the ‘social gradient’. Yet, the exact nature of the income-health relationship is complex. A lack of income reduces the options to lead a healthy lifestyle, and therefore constitutes an important determinant of the often observed social gradient in healthy behaviours [1]. It also acts as a barrier for access to health care, which may be conducive to bad health. Even in countries that have universal health care coverage, such as Australia, affordability remains a barrier for access to health care [2]. In reverse, bad health may be a factor contributing to job loss and therefore lead to low income [3].
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