More puzzling is the fact that more generous welfare policies do not translate into smaller health disparities. Even the Nordic countries – world leaders when it comes to creating universal and well-designed welfare policies that cover citizens from cradle to grave – face significant health disparities, despite their relatively low income inequality.
长期时间序列数据表明，社会经济死亡率差异在20世纪50年代以前有所缩小，但此后显著增大。更令人难以费解的事实是更慷慨的福利政策并不能转换为更小的健康差异。即使是以设计完美的“从出生到坟墓”的全民覆盖福利政策为天下先的北欧国家，也面临着极大地健康差异，尽管它们的收入不平等性相对较低。