Income inequality, area-level poverty, perceived aversion to inequality, and self-rated health in Japan.
In this study we conduct a multilevel analysis to investigate the association between regional income inequality and self-rated health in Japan, based on two nationwide surveys. We confirm that there is a significant association between area-level income inequality and individual-level health assessment. We also find that health assessment tends to be more sensitive to income inequality among lower income individuals, and to degree of area-level poverty, than income inequality for the society as a whole. In addition, we examine how individuals are averse to inequality, based on the observed association between inequality and self-rated health.
Oshio
Takashi
T
Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University, 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi, Tokyo, Japan. oshio@ier.hit-u.ac.jp
Kobayashi
Miki
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012935:Social Justice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012938:Social Perception; D012946:Social Welfare; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic