The effect of income inequality on the health of society

This thesis examines the effect of income inequality on the health of society. By examining the evolution of income inequality and health indicators (mortality, life expectancy at birth, overweight and obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking, crime and suicide) there has been found only one connection, namely between significant increase in income inequality and increasing crime rates between 1990-2000 in Czech republic. At the end of the last century there were dramatic changes which are however not on a regular basis. We can say that income inequality affects the health of society in very poor countries or when major changes in income inequality occur (changes of Gini coefficient). Other indicators did not prove any income inequality