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Review of Radical Political Economics
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Social Inequalities, Social Capital, and Health of Canadians

M. Reza Nakhaie

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Windsor, nakhaie{at}uwindsor.ca

Lisa K. Smylie

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Windsor, nakhaie{at}uwindsor.ca

Robert Arnold

University of Windsor

Research has demonstrated that social inequality affects public health. Social capital theory has shown that social exchange, social contacts, and social support are also important. We test social inequality and social capital, using the data from the National Population Health Survey, 1996—7. We find weak support for capital theory and show that effects often depend on measures of social capital and health. Social capital appears less useful in explaining the health status of Canadians.

JEL classification : I10, I18, D63

Key Words: social inequality • social capital • health • Canada

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Review of Radical Political Economics, Vol. 39, No. 4, 562-585 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0486613407306823
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