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Anti-capitalism and public health

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  • Snowdon, Christopher

Abstract

The literature on policy-making in public health academia portrays the interests of many industries as being implacably opposed to the public interest. Suspicion of large, transnational corporations has evolved into disapproval of a wide range of 'commercial entities' who are depicted as the 'commercial determinants of health'. Publ ic hea lth academ ics of ten por tray 'ma rket fundamentalism', 'neoliberalism', and economic growth as the root causes of 'non-communicable disease', and propose 'degrowth', 'doughnut economics' and other such radical changes to the economic order as the solution. Modern public health is a fundamentally political movement and the hardening of its anti-capitalist stance should be taken seriously by those who support free markets.

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  • Snowdon, Christopher, 2025. "Anti-capitalism and public health," IEA Discussion Papers 140, Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ieadps:325491
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    References listed on IDEAS

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