The Impact of Income Inequality on the Level of Community Health and Economic Development in Iran

Purpose Given that health is one of the categories that is directly and indirectly affectedby income inequality in the country. In this study, the effect of income inequality andeconomic development on the level of life expectancy as a health indicator is examined.Methodology: This article is an analytical and ecological correlation type using the timeseries data of ۲۰۰۲-۲۰۱۹ to study the variables of Gini coefficient, per capita income,GDP and life expectancy in Iran. For this purpose, the regression test approach hasbeen used. SPSS software was used to analyze the data.Findings: According to the results, the significant value of regression is less than ۰.۰۵,so regression is significant. The standard beta value for the Gini coefficient is negative۰.۳۶۷ and the significant value is ۰.۰۰۵, so the Gini coefficient at the ۹۵% confidencelevel has a negative and significant effect on life expectancy. The standard betacoefficient for national per capita income is ۰.۷۸۳ and a significant value is ۰.۰۰۱.Therefore, national per capita income at the ۹۵% confidence level has a positive andsignificant effect on life expectancy. In the variable Gini coefficient and national percapita income, more than ۸۱% explain the changes in life expectancy.Originality/Value: The results show that health is more affected by income inequalitythan any other variable. There is also a significant relationship between incomeinequality and health indicators and reducing inequality and increasing economicdevelopment has a positive relationship with health. In this regard, one of the key waysAchieving this is improving the components of human capital, including health.Therefore, adopting appropriate policies to improve income distribution can beeffective in promoting the health of people in society and consequently in developingsocieties such as Iran, simultaneous attention to economic development and incomedistribution is the best strategy to ensure and promote health.

Keywords:

Income inequality , community health , economic development , life expectancy