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International Journal for Equity in Health
Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Commentary

Punching above their weight: a network to understand broader determinants of increasing life expectancy

Authors: Fran Baum, Jennie Popay, Toni Delany-Crowe, Toby Freeman, Connie Musolino, Carlos Alvarez-Dardet, Vinya Ariyaratne, Kedar Baral, Paulin Basinga, Mary Bassett, David M. Bishai, Mickey Chopra, Sharon Friel, Elsa Giugliani, Hideki Hashimoto, James Macinko, Martin McKee, Huong Thanh Nguyen, Nikki Schaay, Orielle Solar, Sundararaman Thiagarajan, David Sanders

Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Life expectancy initially improves rapidly with economic development but then tails off. Yet, at any level of economic development, some countries do better, and some worse, than expected – they either punch above or below their weight. Why this is the case has been previously researched but no full explanation of the complexity of this phenomenon is available.

New research network

In order to advance understanding, the newly formed Punching Above Their Weight Research Network has developed a model to frame future research. It provides for consideration of the following influences within a country: political and institutional context and history; economic and social policies; scope for democratic participation; extent of health promoting policies affecting socio-economic inequities; gender roles and power dynamics; the extent of civil society activity and disease burdens.

Conclusion

Further research using this framework has considerable potential to advance effective policies to advance health and equity.
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Metadata
Title
Punching above their weight: a network to understand broader determinants of increasing life expectancy
Authors
Fran Baum
Jennie Popay
Toni Delany-Crowe
Toby Freeman
Connie Musolino
Carlos Alvarez-Dardet
Vinya Ariyaratne
Kedar Baral
Paulin Basinga
Mary Bassett
David M. Bishai
Mickey Chopra
Sharon Friel
Elsa Giugliani
Hideki Hashimoto
James Macinko
Martin McKee
Huong Thanh Nguyen
Nikki Schaay
Orielle Solar
Sundararaman Thiagarajan
David Sanders
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Journal for Equity in Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1475-9276
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-018-0832-y

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