Disease prevention as social change

摘要

The academic literature on the national determinants of health has long been a battle of duelling cross-country regressions, with ever fancier econometrics but little added understanding. Only recently have scholars begun to build relevant frameworks and testable hypotheses for understanding specific public health policies, crises and outcomes in a comparative context. At the forefront of this group is Constance A. Nathanson, author of this impressive book. Nathanson keenly explores the grinding path to public health success and failure in 16 case studies in four countries at the turn of two centuries. She provides a powerful analytical framework for understanding public health outcomes and a pretty handy how-to kit for would-be 'norm entrepreneurs'.