Globalization Has Brought New Opportunities For Equitable...

Introduction In conversations surrounding health around the world, health equity is a common concern. Though a highly normative term, equity is used for operationalization and measurement and can be defined as: â€Å"the absence of systematic disparities in health (or in the major determinants of health) between social groups with different levels of underlying social advantage or disadvantage†¦ (Braveman and Gruskin, 2002, p. 254). While many factors influence health equity, one of the largest today is globalization; in fact, The World Health Organization claims, â€Å"globalization has brought new opportunities for equitable health. But it has also brought threats and risks,† (WHO Commission on Social Determinants). While globalization has†¦show more content†¦Next, I will evaluate the economic risks, increasing inequalities within states, and benefits, the poor becoming richer, for health that globalization has brought about. Finally, I summarize how globalization has brought about health equity risks and benefits but overall it has increased health inequality within countries. Globalization – A Working Definition The concept of globalization is neither new nor agreed upon by scholars, researchers, or policy makers, yet it is still just as influential across the globe; breaking down economic, political, cultural, social, demographic and symbolic barriers unlike any other concept in history (Kawachi and Vamala, 2006). Modern â€Å"period of globalization† is considered to be from 1960-1998 when its influence quickly spread throughout the world, however globalization has continued into the 21st century and has as strong a presence as ever (Corina, 2001). This concept embodies the interconnectedness of the globe today as Joseph Stiglitz phrases in his book Globalization and its Discontents, â€Å"globalization is the closer integration of the countries and peoples of the world†¦. brought about by the enormous reduction of costs of transportation and communication and the breaking down of artificial barriers to the flows of goods, services, capital, knowledge, and people across border s,† (Stiglitz, 2002). Though encompassing many spheres, the political and