This analysis of the political and social forces that shape the well-being and quality of life of populations in developed capitalist countries is written by scholars based in several different countries. The book shows how the varying political traditions in the developed world—social democratic, Christian democratic, conservative, and liberal traditions—have affected populations’ health and quality of life in the western democracies.

Since US President Reagan and UK Prime Minister Thatcher, a major ideology (under the name of economic science) has been expanded worldwide that claims that the best policies to stimulate human development are those that reduce the role of the state in economic and social lives:privatizing public services and public enterprises, deregulating the mobility of capital and labor, eliminating protectionism and reducing public social protection.

The field of social inequalities in health continues its vigorous growth in the early years of the 21st century. This volume following in the footsteps of Vicente Navarro's edited collection of The Political Economy of Social Inequalities, is a compilation of recent contributions to the area of social epidemiology, health disparities, health economics and health services research.

Universal Health Care Systems (UHCS) on the Periphery of Capitalism

Hans-Ulrich Deppe, MD

Professor for Medical Sociology and Social Medicine

Health Policy Reform: Driving the wrong way? - A critical guide to the global 'health reform' industry
author: John Lister
Published July 5 2005
ISBN 1 904750 45 1 £25pb
“This is an excellent book for students and policy makers and provides a useful overview of health care restructuring across the world. I recommend it.”
Allyson Pollock, Chair of Health Policy & Health Services Research, UCL

2 years ago your Editorial staff and International Advisory Board took the courageous and correct step to criticise the practices of your parent company, Reed Elsevier, in the hosting of arms trade fairs.(1)

The arms trade industry as it stands has little good to say for itself. It encourages transgressions of the various Geneva Conventions on the conduct of war, wastes public money, catalyses confl ict and war, institutionalises corruption, glorifi es violence, sustains oppressive and genocidal regimes, and excuses the conduct of torture.

Neoliberal economic and labor market policy, stagnating working income and continuing mass unemployment have withered the extent of employment paying into social security.. the next financing crisis of health insurance is pre-programmed.

Health Reform: Turning away from the Solidarity Principle
by Hans-Ulrich Deppe