Think Piece: Wealth inequality, health and health equity - Sarah Sanford

Notable examples include the economic disempowerment of Indigenous communities upheld by the 1876 Indian Act59,60, and the persistent anti-Black racism and segregation of African Canadians – in housing, employment, schooling and education – following the abolishment of slavery in Canada in the 19th century. [...] Taking the perspective that economic systems perpetuate inequities across social groups, there is a need for continued examination of the ways that these systems are set up to favour the concentration of wealth and health at the top, along with the development of alternatives to prevent and mitigate these inequities. [...] The past 50 years have seen major declines in taxes on the rich across OECD countries, including Canada, and most agree this contributes to the concentration of income and wealth in the hands of the rich117. [...] Notable heterogeneity in the design and administration of the wealth tax in countries has been identified and authors show that the design features and the political and economic contexts where they are implemented are key factors to think about in terms of successes and failures. [...] Wealth inequality, health and health equity 18 A key focus in this regard is the need for systematic and consistent analysis and communication of how existing economic and social policies perpetuate inequities, benefiting some and continuing the marginalization of other groups, particularly those with histories of economic dispossession and exclusion.