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Journal of Urban Health
Published in: Journal of Urban Health 4/2008

01-07-2008

Cities of Consumption: The Impact of Corporate Practices on the Health of Urban Populations

Authors: Nicholas Freudenberg, Sandro Galea

Published in: Journal of Urban Health | Issue 4/2008

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Abstract

The increasing concentration of the world’s population in cities and the growing accumulation of political and economic power by corporations create new threats to health and opportunities for improving global health. By considering the intersection of these two fundamental social determinants of well-being, we elucidate some of the mechanisms by which they influence the health of urban populations. After reviewing the changing historical impact of corporations on cities, we focus on the growth of consumption as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity and describe how the food, tobacco, automobile, and other industries promote unhealthy behaviors and lifestyles in urban settings. Cities are also sites for developing alternatives to unhealthy corporate practices, and we assess strategies used to modify practices that harm health.
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Metadata
Title
Cities of Consumption: The Impact of Corporate Practices on the Health of Urban Populations
Authors
Nicholas Freudenberg
Sandro Galea
Publication date
01-07-2008
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Urban Health / Issue 4/2008
Print ISSN: 1099-3460
Electronic ISSN: 1468-2869
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-008-9278-7

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