HLPR6006 Module 2 - A Political Economy of Health

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1. “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” - Pericles

2. Politics and Power in Public Health ECONOMY OF HEALTH Dr Helen Brown A POLITICAL

3. Overview What is politics? What does it have to do with public health? Externalities Merit goods Morality National security

4. Bambra et al. (2005) – Article in focus Reading critical review Reflect on the readings/online materials for Module 2 Key messages/thoughts? What were the take away messages? What content got you thinking? How does the content presented relate to any of your previous units/studies ?

5. Bambra et al. (2005) – Article in focus Key messages/thoughts Any concepts you didn’t understand? Why is health political? Health as a commodity Health as an aspect of citizenship and a human right How do these concepts relate to political philosophy (neo-liberalism/capitalism & the welfare state)?

6. Bambra et al. (2005) – Article in focus Key messages/thoughts Any concepts you didn’t understand? Why is health political? Health as a commodity Health as an aspect of citizenship and a human right How do these concepts relate to political philosophy (neo-liberalism/capitalism & the welfare state)? Why is health apolitical?

7. What is politics? Politics as government – the art of government and the activities of the state. Politics as public life – concerned with the conduct and management of community affairs. Politics as conflict resolution – concerned with the expression and resolution of conflicts through compromise, conciliation, negotiation and other strategies. Politics as power – the process through which desired outcomes are achieved in the production, distribution and use of scarce resources in all areas of social existence. Bambra, et al. (2005)

8. Activity 2.1: Political Interpretations What did Bambra et al (2005) mean when they referred to the first and last as a top down and a bottom up interpretation of politics? According to Schrecker & Bambra (2015) what is the focus of a political economy approach to understanding health and how is it different to a biomedical approach to health? 

9. EXPLORING THE CONNECTIONS HEALTH POLITICAL? WHY IS PUBLIC

10. Some reasons… Externalities and individual restrictions for the common good Extent to which government is expected to provide bare necessities Moral judgments about response to public health issues require political support to enact Public health problems can affect national security if reaching a certain scale

11. Health Partnerships, Politics and Power externalities… Individual + institutional actions often produce significant spillover effects (what economists call externalities). Some of these are beneficial and some are harmful. REASON #1

12. REASON #1

13. “The only purpose for which power can rightfully be exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant.” - John Stuart Mill REASON #1

14. REASON #2 merit goods

15. In their own words: The Welfare State Video also available to view on Blackboard in Unit Materials – Module 2

16. In their own words: The Welfare State How do the MPs describe the role of welfare?

17. Activity 2.2: Welfare States Reflect on the following with reference to the reading by Schrecker and Bambra (2015) in particular: What regime of welfare state is Australia and what are its key characteristics? Homework: Choose two countries identified in the article in Tables 1.1 and 1.2. With consideration to the political context discussed in the chapter, review the changes in health outcomes for the two selected countries and what may have contributed to the changes in health outcomes.

18. REASON #3 Senator Penny Wong and Senator Cory Bernardi take the oath in the Senate. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen morality

19. REASON #4 national security

20. COVID ‘Lived’ Case Study Politics Welfare State Externalities Merit Goods National Security

21. Key points Politics is central in determining how citizens and policy makers recognise and define problems with existing social conditions and policies, in facilitating certain kinds of public health interventions but not others, and in generating a variety of challenges in policy implementation. An understanding of politics helps public health practitioners to better anticipate both short term constraints and long term opportunities for change.

22. Key concepts Politics Externalities Merit goods Morality

23. Questions & comments

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