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Decomposing World Health Inequality

Author

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  • Menno Pradhan

    (World Bank, Washington, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • David E. Sahn
  • Stephen D. Younger

    (Cornell University)

Abstract

This study explores global inequality in health status, and decomposes it into within- andbetween-country inequality. We rely on standardized height indicators as our health indicator sincethey avoid the measurement pitfalls of more traditional measures of health such as morbidity,mortality and life expectancy. They also avoid measurement problems associated with usingincomes across time or place to compare welfare. Our calculation of world height inequalityindicates that in contrast with similar research on income inequality, within-country variation is thesource of most inequality, rather than the differences between countries.NBR>

Suggested Citation

  • Menno Pradhan & David E. Sahn & Stephen D. Younger, 2001. "Decomposing World Health Inequality," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 01-091/2, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20010091
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    health; inequality;

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