ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the complex dynamics of socioeconomic environments and how they relate to human health. The relationship between lack of material resources—such as food, housing, and medical facilities—and poor health may seem straightforward. The chapter presents less tangible aspects of socioeconomic environments such as inequality and discrimination, asking how they might influence health outcomes. It focuses on the social determinants of health, which is the primary focus of geographic research as it focuses on the idea that social and physical environments influence health outcomes. At a societal scale, material wealth enables the construction of well-functioning infrastructure, the funding of health care, and the development and enforcement of health-promoting legislation. Many health indicators estimate either morbidity or mortality. Morbidity rates report the proportion of a population with a disease or infirmity, often given as a prevalence or incidence rate.
