comparative longitudinal analysis using the European Community Household Panel

This paper contributes to the literature on income-related inequalities in health across European Union Member States. The analysis is based on the European Community Household Panel Users ’ Database (ECHP-UDB) and uses two binary measures of health limitations for the full 8 waves of available data. Short-run and long-run concentration indices together with mobility indices are derived for indicators of severe health limitation and any health limitation. Results suggest the existence of “pro-rich ” inequality in health across Member States in both the short-term and the long-term, with health limitations concentrated among those individuals with lower incomes. For many countries, long-run indices suggest income-related inequalities in health are widening, in the sense that the longer the period over which health and income are measured, the greater is the degree of income-related health inequality