Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy

Document Type : Editorial

Author

Globalization and Health Equity, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Abstract

With coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) receding, many countries are pondering what a post-pandemic economy should look like. Some advocate a more inclusive stakeholder model of capitalism. Others caution that this would be insufficient to deal with our pre-pandemic crises of income inequality and climate change. Many countries emphasize a ‘green recovery’ with improved funding for health and social protection. Progressive tax reform and fiscal policy innovations are needed, but there is concern that the world is already tilting towards a new round of austerity. Fundamentally, the capitalist growth economy rests on levels of material consumption that are unsustainable and inequitable. More radical proposals thus urge ‘degrowth’ policies to reduce consumption levels while redistributing wealth and income to allow the poorer half of humanity to achieve an ethical life expectancy. We have the policy tools to do so. We need an activist public health movement to ensure there is sufficient political will to adopt them.

Highlights

 

Commentaries Published on this Paper

 

  • Austerity by Design; Comment on “Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Pandemic’s Experience Questioning Capitalistic Dominance; Comment on “Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Things That Become Visible, for a While, Can Leave a Residue; Comment on “Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Post-pandemic Economics and Health Equity; Comment on “Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • The Key Role of Social Movements in Protecting the Health of People and the Planet; Comment on “Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • “Post”-pandemic Capitalism: Reform or Transform?; Comment on “Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-Pandemic Economy: Words Count!; Comment on “Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy”

        Abstract | PDF

 

  • The Values of the Care Economy; Comment on “Ensuring Global Health Equity in a Post-pandemic Economy”

        Abstract | PDF

 

Keywords


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