Why Income Matters
Research shows a link between income and health. The higher the income, the lower the chances of disease and early death.
Income determines our social, economic and physical environments, and access to health care, which greatly influences health (see figure below).
| Determinant of Health | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Social & Economic Environment | 50 |
| Health Care (Illness Care) | 25 |
| Biology & Genetics | 15 |
| Physical Environment | 10 |
(Source: Canadian Institute for Advanced Research)
People with lower income have:
- Poorer mental and physical health
- Higher stress
- Less access to healthy food, affordable safe housing, health services
and basic needs - More disease and early death
Wealth and income provide benefits such as healthier living and working conditions, access to healthy food, health care, recreation, transportation and protection from chronic stress due to low income.
Parents’ wealth affects their children’s education and economic and social opportunities, which shapes their health throughout life. The influence of wealth on health begins even before a child is born. It affects the quality of prenatal care for a woman, her level of stress during pregnancy and her likelihood of delivering a premature or low birth weight baby.
