Andrew Leigh and Christopher Jencks investigate whether changes in economic inequality affect mortality in rich countries. To answer this question the authors use a new source of data on income inequality: tax data on the share of pretax income going to the richest 10 percent of the population in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the...

People who are socioeconomically disadvantaged experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease mortality than other Australians – and there is evidence that the gap has widened. A similar trend has also been observed in other OECD countries. This bulletin examines data on cardiovascular disease mortality mortality to try to answer key questions in relation to mortality...

This statistical report documents morbidity and morbidity-related inequalities by area-level socioeconomic disadvantage, equivalised household income, education and occupation among infants and children, young adults, working-aged adults and older persons for the periods 1989–90, 1995 and 2001.

Several cross-country studies have observed a negative correlation between inequality and interpersonal trust. Using data from 59 countries, Andrew Leigh finds that a rise in inequality does reduce trust.

Using a large Australian social survey, combined with precise data on neighbourhood characteristics, Andrew Leigh explores the factors that affect trust at local and national levels. Trust is positively associated with the respondent’s education, and negatively associated with the amount of time spent commuting. Trust is higher in affluent areas, and lower in ethnically and...