Health Impact of Globalization

Abstract

Globalization aggravates economic disparity within a nation as well as between nations. Such disparity poses serious implications to the social and health status of the economically underprivileged. Furthermore, political espousal of free market capitalism enervates socialistic institutions. Thus, globalization or national efforts for adapting to this epochal change is suspect of having negative impact on national health. Using the under-5 mortality rate as the health index, and the ratio of the total sum of export and import over GDP by expenditure as the globalization index, this correlation has been investigated, using relevant statistical data compiled by international agencies. The analysis has provided some corroborating trends. It also helped identify some other economic and political situations that affect nations’health status. These situations are often engendered by globalization, thus further corroborating its negative impact on health.