Commentary: Social capital and health: making the connections one step at a time

Abstract

The study by Tony Blakely et al.¹ in this issue of the journal adds to the growing international evidence suggesting that social capital matters less for the health of residents in comparatively egalitarian countries, in contrast to highly unequal societies with inadequate safety nets. Although New Zealand experienced dramatic surges in income inequality following the structural reforms of the 1980s and 1990s, the country, nonetheless, managed to preserve robust support for public infrastructure (e.g. primary health care services, public education) that arguably helps to mitigate the consequences of rising inequality.