"Social Capital" vs. "Neomaterialist" Interpretations of Health 
Inequalities

Christine Lindström and Martin Lindström

The effects of social capital, income inequality, and absolute per capita
income were investigated in an ecological analysis of 23 rich and poor
countries. Trust was chosen as an indicator of social capital, and GNP 
(gross
national product) per capita and Gini index measured absolute and relative
income, respectively. These independent variables were analyzed in a 
linear
regression model with the dependent variables adult mortality rate (25-64
years), life expectancy, and infant mortality rate (IMR). Separate 
analyses
were performed for poor and rich countries as well as all countries 
combined.
Social capital (trust) showed no significant association with the three 
health
outcomes. A particularly strong relationship was found between Gini index
and IMR for rich countries, and GNP per capita and life expectancy for all
countries. In the group of poor countries, GNP per capita and Gini index 
in the
same model were associated with IMR. 

The results contradict the suggested impact of social capital on health, 
and 
instead support the notion that economic factors such as absolute income 
and 
relative income distribution are of importance.

International Journal of Health Services, Volume 36, Number 4, Pages 
679-696, 2006

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