Health, social inequality and taxation: How Ireland’s schizmogenic social model undermines the well-being of the European body politic

Carmen Kuhling, Kieran Keohane

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Before the recent economic recession Ireland had become one of the most affluent societies in the world, and the so-called Irish social model of low taxes and low public services provision was seen as one to be emulated, particularly amongst the accession states to the EU. However, Ireland has also become one of the most unequal societies in the OECD, and one of the unhealthiest, measured by all of the standard morbidity and epidemiological indicators, and the social gradient of health corresponds closely with social inequality. Ireland’s healthcare system, always relatively underdeveloped in comparison to most European countries, reflects social inequality; it is a two-tiered system wherein a minority with private health insurance enjoy access to good care and facilities, while the rest make do with an underdeveloped, under-resourced and overstretched public health system and subsidise the private services. The Irish social model is schizmogenic, generating and amplifying social inequalities. This is clearly visible in the domain of health, which has become a crucible of public de-legitimation and political foment. Ireland’s problems are problems for the health and well-being of the European body politic, insofar as other members emulate the Irish model, cutting corporate taxes and reducing public services in a race to the bottom away from the Rhinish and Nordic social models.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)24-40
Number of pages17
JournalIrish Journal of Sociology
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2009

Keywords

  • Gift
  • Health
  • Inequality
  • Schizmogenesis
  • Social model
  • Taxation

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