Nicky Hart’s scientific contributions

Life expectancy in Britain continues to be stratified by socio-economic status. The paper reviews the extent of mortality differentials by sex, age, occupational class and housing tenure. Methodological issues relating to the interpretation of trends are evaluated and it is concluded that there is strong evidence that differences between the social classes have widened over time. Explanatory theories are distinguished by the role they assign to the individual as opposed to the environment and factors, other than empirical proof, which predispose acceptance of any one interpretation are discussed. The paper concludes that, on the evidence then available, the DHSS Working Group on Inequalities in Health was justified in emphasising the socio-economic environment as the principal source of health inequality, and that further research published since 1980, reinforces that judgment even more strongly.