The Health of Nations: Why Inequality is Harmful to Your Health

Rating:
Summary: Important contribution.
Review: Chasing the American Dream could be dangerous to your health. People with extrinsic goal orientation (i.e. chasing fame, fortune, recognition, and good looks) were more likely to be depressed than the rest of the population.

The richest citizens on earth (Americans) had a higher infant mortality and lower life expectancy than 25 other economically developed nations. A high infant mortality and low life expectancy correlate with an inequality in income distribution.

Americans also took less vacation time and worked five to ten weeks more per year than people of other countries. This correlates with a high incidence of depression and other medical conditions including obesity and diabetes.

The authors concluded that economic inequality, relentless competition, escalating consumption threatened the health of the people and the nation.