ABSTRACT
An exploration of inequalities in well-being could focus on various types of inequalities. This chapter begins with an overview of inequalities in well-being between countries and moves on to inequalities within countries, particularly in developed countries. It focuses on change in these inequalities over time, for example under the influence of changes in macroeconomic circumstances, and discusses theories used to explain inequalities in well-being. Research on inequalities within countries studies differences between groups of people, with groups defined by gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic position, age, geographical location, sexual preference, disability status or any other characteristic that results in one group of people being more disadvantaged than another group. Both the initiation and continuation of addictive health behaviours, such as tobacco use, are affected by the social and socioeconomic environment. The chapter concludes with a reflection on directions for research, including recommendations on producing evidence relevant to policy makers by making better use of existing data sources and methodologies across disciplines.
