Inequality of Opportunity in Adult Health: Empirical Evidence from Mexico

Yanelkis FERNANDEZ

Master's thesis

Inequality of Opportunity in Health: Empirical Evidence from Mexico

Abstract:

The prevalence and mortality of non-communicable diseases (NCD) have become the most challenging health problem in Mexico, with significant differences arising from gender, age, ethnic groups, regions, zone of residence, and others. According to the Equality of Opportunity (EOp) paradigm, inequality arising from these aspects are unfair and societies should compensate for them. This Thesis analyzes the inequality in adult health due to unfair circumstances by applying a regression-based approach and the Mean Logarithmic Deviation to data from Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018. Adult health status is measured by the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), albumin in the blood, and the systolic blood pressure, which are indicators used to diagnose and monitor the deadliest NCD's, i.e. cardiovascular and liver diseases, and diabetes. The results evidenced significant lower-bound levels of unfair inequality of almost a quarter for SBP, 16.6% for HbA1c, and 13.4% for albumin in the blood. The Shapley decomposition revealed that sex, age, and hereditary conditions are behind most part of the inequality of opportunity (IOp). The socioeconomic conditions and the region in which the individuals are born, shape the levels of IOp as well. Finally, the estimations for males and females suggest that not only differences between them are associated to large shares of unjust inequality in health, but also the opportunities they face within themselves are unequal. In consequence, in order to 'level the playing field' the Mexican society should compensate individuals for the aforementioned aspects, because these inequalities are unfair, thus, people should not be held responsible for them.

Abstract:

The prevalence and mortality of non-communicable diseases (NCD) have become the most challenging health problem in Mexico, with significant differences arising from gender, age, ethnic groups, regions, zone of residence, and others. According to the Equality of Opportunity (EOp) paradigm, inequality arising from these aspects are unfair and societies should compensate for them. This Thesis analyzes the inequality in adult health due to unfair circumstances by applying a regression-based approach and the Mean Logarithmic Deviation to data from Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018. Adult health status is measured by the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), albumin in the blood, and the systolic blood pressure, which are indicators used to diagnose and monitor the deadliest NCD's, i.e. cardiovascular and liver diseases, and diabetes. The results evidenced significant lower-bound levels of unfair inequality of almost a quarter for SBP, 16.6% for HbA1c, and 13.4% for albumin in the blood. The Shapley decomposition revealed that sex, age, and hereditary conditions are behind most part of the inequality of opportunity (IOp). The socioeconomic conditions and the region in which the individuals are born, shape the levels of IOp as well. Finally, the estimations for males and females suggest that not only differences between them are associated to large shares of unjust inequality in health, but also the opportunities they face within themselves are unequal. In consequence, in order to 'level the playing field' the Mexican society should compensate individuals for the aforementioned aspects, because these inequalities are unfair, thus, people should not be held responsible for them.

Keywords

Keywords, Equality of Opportunity, health inequality, biomarkers, non-communicable diseases, mean logarithmic deviation, Shapley decomposition

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 8. 6. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. Cinzia Di Novi

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography / International Development Studies