Aligning Public Health With a Well-Being Economy: Opportunities and Challenges in Addressing Root Causes of Health Inequities; Comment on “Can a Well-Being Economy Save Us?”

Articles in Press

Document Type : Commentary

Author

Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

Abstract

Labonté offers important critical optimism around the idea of a well-being economy, which is gaining considerable international momentum and offers a much-needed alternative to the current political economic paradigm of neoliberal capitalism and its significant social and ecological consequences. Because of its focus on systems and structures that constitute “root causes” of poor health and health inequities at the population level, a well-being economy aligns strongly with stated tenets and value commitments of public health. It thus provides an important opportunity for public health communities to engage and mobilize as a collective around this important vision. For this to happen, however, public health communities must overcome a reluctance to engage with political economy and take seriously the field’s commitment to the public’s health. In this commentary I reflect on these opportunities and challenges in the Canadian public health context. 

Keywords

References

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International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 30 March 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 October 2024
  • Revise Date: 21 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 29 March 2025
  • First Publish Date: 30 March 2025

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