Greater Equality: the Hidden Key to Better Health and Higher Scores - Essay Example

Greater Equality: the Hidden Key to Better Health and Higher Scores Greater Equality: the Hidden Key to Better Health and Higher Scores This essay discusses the significance of inequality in a society, and how it affects rich countries more than poor countries. It has been observed that life expectancy of a baby in a rich country, for example America, is less than that of a baby born in Japan or Greece, which are regarded as poorer countries compared to the U.S. America being a well-developed country has a higher income per person than Japan or Greece.

But the poor countries, although having a lower income, have more equality among the masses in terms of income. This is the thing that developed countries like U.S. and UK, lack. The more equally the income is distributed amongst the population, the healthier the society will be, and people will be able to live a longer life. Furthermore, inequality does not only affect the life expectancy of a country, it also influences level of trust among the people, mental illness, obesity, homicides, imprisonment rates and much more.

Data has been collected to compare the health and social problems in both equal countries and places where inequality exists. It has been concluded that countries, which are poor but have equality prevailing in the society, have much less health and social problems. Further research has been carried out, where health and social problems were measured according to the national income per person, and U.S.A, which had most income per person, also topped the charts with the most health and social problems.

This shows us that being rich doesn’t ensure health and social stability, but it is the material differences which decide the health and social characteristics of a nation. Inequality divides the society as we know it. In developed countries, it is natural for people to join a group which is closer to their social status. People belonging to the elite tend to ignore the ones below them, and this affects their ability to understand the hardships of poor people and sympathize with them. Equality in a society removes social alienation and gives rise to friendships and better understanding between people.

This has proved to be more beneficial to the health of people, than having millions of dollars spent on developing healthcare. Vast differences among social groups tend to create nothing but problems. It creates jealousy, which further leads to animosity and then concludes in violence. Imprisonment rates are found to three times less in an equal society than an in equal society. The truth is that equality helps people at the bottom of the social ladder. They do not envy the vast wealth of the upper class and thus it creates a feeling of brotherhood and peace.

Besides health problems and poverty, education in a country, is also said to benefit from an equal society. Increasing standards of education cannot be achieved without decreasing the social gap. Research shows that adult literacy is higher in societies where equality prevails, and on average is lower in a society where inequality has been established. This research extensively covers the topic of how equality can benefit a society, and can improve the quality of life. Social deterioration that has taken place in developed countries can always be reversed, as soon as the leaders realize that the real problem lies in the exisiting inequality in the society.

This will not only save millions being spent on health and social welfare, but will also act as a permanent solution to the health and social problems, existing in the society. But unfortunately, over the past years, this problem has further escalated in rich countries such as UK and U.S.A. The idea that the poor people need to be brought up to same level as the elite class and to create equality in the society, is not appearing to the policy makers of these nations. Instead, it is being asserted that more sense needs to be put in the minds of the poor people.

All their problems are being addressed by different solution, and no link is being established between them. It should be realized that instead of suggesting a specific path towards narrowing income differences, different ways should be established of addressing the same problem. Most countries, which have society based on equality, achieve it by redistributive taxes and benefits. While Japan seems to be achieving the same results before taxes and benefits, which shows us that redistribution is not vital.

Also it should be made clear that it does not matter how one reduces inequality, but to what level inequality has been reduced. High levels of inequality, will only lead to more prisons and police, as it eventually leads to violence, as mentioned earlier. Also it will lead to an increase in mental illnesses, usage of drugs and a variety of problems. The benefits of an equal society should be kept in mind. It will allow the government to spend more funds and resources on developing education, than building more prisons and police stations.

People locked up in prisons would be free and would be paying taxes and working towards a better future. An equal society will always lead to success. It will be creative, strong and peaceful, where people will address to each other’s problems and will relate to them. Most crimes committed by people are mostly because of the feeling if insecurity and jealousy they feel against the elite class. With inequality being wiped out, there will be no difference between classes, and everyone will respect each other as equals.