Health and Wealth on the Roller-Coaster: Ireland, 2003–2011

Abstract

The 2003–2011 period in Ireland can be viewed as a roller-coaster with years of high growth followed by years of deep recession. This paper reviews developments in income and health poverty in Ireland over that period using data from the survey of income and living conditions. Income and health poverty are examined both uni-dimensionally and bi-dimensionally using sequential stochastic dominance. Conventional poverty indices are also provided and the correlation between health and income poverty is also analysed Income poverty fell up to and including 2009, after which this trend is reversed. Health poverty shows less of a trend over the period though there is some evidence of a reduction in health inequality from 2006. Movements in bi-dimensional poverty are mostly driven by income poverty, but there is evidence of a reduction in the correlation between health and income poverty over the period.