Economic change, social welfare and health in Europe

Abstract

This publication presents a collection of seven papers presented during a symposium which explored the impact of economic changes in Europe on social welfare and health. Focused on the social determinants of health, papers draw on the findings of several recent studies to assess the specific consequences of poverty and unemployment. Ways that national policy-makers might respond to periods of rapid economic change are also considered. The first paper provides a conceptual framework for understanding the health consequences of unemployment, particularly concerning the question of whether unemployment prompts unhealthy lifestyles and increases mortality. The effects of unemployment on mental health are considered in the second paper. Sweden is used as a model in the third paper, which assesses the relationship between differences in income distribution and differences in illness and mortality. Other papers show how economic changes affect individuals and families during a recession, describe the effect of social changes on health in Hungary, and discuss the relationship between economic growth and the development of social welfare systems. The final paper uses experiences in Finland to explore the complex relationship between economic recession and public expenditure on welfare.