Doholyan S.V., Vershinina M.A. Social differentiation and life expectancy of the population: interrelation and prospects. Regional problems of economic transformation. 2024. No. 12. Pp. 400-409.

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Abstract

The relevance of the topic lies in its profound importance for public health, social justice and economic stability. This topic is based on the basic premise that life expectancy, a fundamental indicator of public health, is not evenly distributed among different social strata. This inequality is a manifestation of broader systemic inequalities encompassing socio-economic status, education, profession, and access to resources. Thus, studying the relationship between social differentiation and life expectancy provides important insights into the structural determinants of health and the mechanisms by which social inequality leads to health consequences. From a public health perspective, understanding the impact of social differentiation on life expectancy is crucial for developing effective measures to reduce health inequalities. Epidemiological studies consistently show that people in higher socio-economic positions have a longer life expectancy due to a combination of better access to healthcare, healthier living environments, and greater medical literacy. Conversely, people belonging to lower socio-economic strata often face barriers to access to medical care, live in environments with higher health risks and experience higher levels of chronic stress, all of which contribute to poorer health outcomes and shorter life expectancy. By clarifying these ways, public health policy can be more strategically focused on addressing the root causes of health inequalities. This topic is also of great importance for social justice, as differences in life expectancy highlight the pervasive and ingrained nature of social inequality. Life expectancy is not just a biological endpoint, but a reflection of accumulated social advantages and disadvantages throughout life. These differences highlight the moral imperative of addressing the social determinants of health, including poverty, education, housing, and employment, which are often unfairly distributed among different social groups. In this context, the study of the relationship between social differentiation and life expectancy draws attention to the ethical aspects of health inequality and the need for social efforts to ensure equity in health.