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Income-related health inequality in urban China (1991–2015): The role of homeownership and housing conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Peng Nie

    (Xjtu - Xi'an Jiaotong University, University of Hohenheim, IZA - Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit - Institute of Labor Economics)

  • Andrew E. Clark

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris sciences et lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris sciences et lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

  • Conchita d'Ambrosio

    (University of Luxembourg [Luxembourg])

  • Lanlin Ding

    (Xjtu - Xi'an Jiaotong University)

Abstract

Unprecedented economic growth has been experienced over the several decades worldwide, but such rapid economic growth wasn't accompanied by equally-substantial improvement in health, especially health inequalities between the rich and poor. This study examines the role of housing in income-related health inequalities (income-health gradient) in urban China. We here analyze 1991–2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey data to ask how housing affects income-related health inequalities in urban China. We find pro-poor inequalities in self-reported bad health but pro-rich inequalities in objective bad health (general overweight/obesity, central obesity and high blood pressure). Housing conditions serve to reduce the health gradient, especially for objective health. On the contrary, homeownership exacerbates the health gradient. Improving housing conditions thus appears to be an effective way of reducing the income-health gradient in urban China.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng Nie & Andrew E. Clark & Conchita d'Ambrosio & Lanlin Ding, 2022. "Income-related health inequality in urban China (1991–2015): The role of homeownership and housing conditions," Post-Print halshs-03672658, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03672658
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102743
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income-related health inequality; Housing conditions; Homeownership; Decomposition; Urban China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand

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