ANN ARBOR—Income inequalities and socioeconomic status are the most significant factors affecting health in the United States, according to a new book co-authored by a group including University of Michigan Profs. George A. Kaplan and David R. Williams.

The National Policy Association and the Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy collaborated to publish the book, “Income, Socioeconomic Status and Health: Exploring the Relationships.” Authors from U-M and from Canada will discuss their findings and their recommendations for improving health at an April 2 event at the recently established U-M Center on Social Epidemiology and Population Health.

Although the United States outspends other countries on medical care, three-quarters of the world’s developed countries have better health measures, according to the book’s findings. Thus the authors contend that spending more money on health care alone will not yield all the expected improvements in health outcomes because the problems are not simply about spending more money.

The researchers argue that even small changes in socioeconomic status and social conditions can significantly improve health. They are calling for changes in six critical areas: investing in young children; providing services and opportunities for the neediest; improving the work environment; strengthening support at the community level; creating a more equal economic environment; recognizing and assessing the effect of economic and social actions on health.

Speakers at the April 2 event will be: George Kaplan, professor and chair of epidemiology at the U-M and director of the Michigan Center on Social Epidemiology and Population Health; David Williams, professor of sociology and senior research scientist at the Institute for Social Research, U-M; Clyde Hertzman, professor of health care and epidemiology at University of British Columbia and director of the Program in Population Health of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; James Auerbach, senior vice president at the National Policy Association; and Barbara Krimgold, director of the Kellogg Minority Scholars in Health Disparities program at the Center for the Advancement of Health.

The event takes place 1-3 p.m.,

George A. KaplanNational Policy Associationepidemiology