"If you could do one thing…" Nine local actions to reduce health inequalities

Posted on 10 January 2014

In January 2014, the British Academy, the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences, is publishing a collection of opinion pieces on health inequalities from leading social scientists. Our very own Professor's Kate Pickett and Alan Maynard have both contributed to this report drawing on the evidence base for their particular area of expertise, identifying one policy intervention that they think local authorities should introduce to improve the health of the local population and reduce health inequalities.

The report seeks to help local policymakers improve the health of their communities by presenting evidence from the social sciences that can help reduce inequalities in health. With a foreword from Sir Michael Marmot, the report further explores what The Marmot Review confirmed: that socio-economic inequalities affect health outcomes and that there is a social gradient in health. In some senses this is a social sciences dialogue companion to the Marmot Review.

More information about the report is available on the British Academy website.