What are the health implications for nations with high poverty of this
report?

Esping-Andersen argues that a primary concern of modern welfare states such
as Canada is to provide sufficient economic resources to support citizens
across the life-span (Esping-Andersen, 2002). Changes in the occupational
structure of post-industrial societies require the accumulation of
"cognitive and social capital" among citizens.  It is especially important
to provide children with these assets: "Since it is well established that
the ability and motivation to learn in the first place depends on the
economic and social conditions of childhood, policies aimed to safeguard
child welfare must be regarded as an investment on par with and, perhaps,
more urgent than educational investments" (p. 9).  These assets provide
intellectual and social flexibility that supports learning new skills and
adaptation to changing work environments. Economies also benefit by having
women in the workplace and providing training opportunities to assist
workers in coping with changing employment situations.

These key public policy issues show similarities with population health
formulations that emphasize the accumulation of health assets across the
life span. In particular Shaw and colleagues emphasize the importance of
societal supports for significant transitions across the life span such as
entering and leaving school, gaining and possibly losing employment, and
entering retirement (Shaw, Dorling, Gordon, & Smith, 1999). These supports
include provision of income and employment security, equitable distribution
of resources, and educational and training opportunities across the life
span. How can we evaluate whether nations are committed to such goals? What
indicators of healthy public policy are available?  What do these
indicators tell us about governmental ideology and public policy?

Esping-Andersen, G. (Ed.). (2002). Why we need a new welfare state. Oxford
UK: Oxford University Press.
Shaw, M., Dorling, D., Gordon, D., & Smith, G. D. (1999). The Widening Gap:
Health Inequalities and Policy in Britain. Bristol, UK: The Policy Press.

Source: Bryant, T. (2005). Politics, Public Policy, and Population Health.
In Raphael, D., Bryant, T., & Rioux, M. (eds.)  Staying alive: Critical
Studies in Health, Illness, and Health Care. Toronto: Canadian Scholars
Press. To be published in February, 2006.

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