ABSTRACT
Differentials in mortality and morbidity have been studied extensively in many countries, particularly the United Kingdom.1 The debate in the United Kingdom2,3,4 proliferated with the publication of the Black Report.5 Interest in the topic has not been restricted to Britain, however, and during the last 30 years national studies of differences in mortality among socioeconomic groups have been undertaken in the Nordic countries,6 central and southern European countries,7,8 North America,9,10 Japan,11 and New Zealand.12 In each country, the least advantaged sectors of society have been shown to suffer the highest mortality. The importance of this topic has been emphasized in the World Health Organization initiative Health for All by the Year 2000,13 which targets reductions in health differences within and between countries.
