This thought-provoking monograph analyzes the longstanding political and economic structures underlying entrenched health inequities in rural areas worldwide. Bypassing familiar data on the subject, it critiques existing approaches to why core social determinants of health are underrepresented in rural communities, and synthesizes knowledge from health behaviors to spatial politics to make creative, equitable suggestions for intervention. The author reviews classic economic and current sociopolitical theory to pinpoint governments' decision-making processes behind resource allocation as they translate into poor service access, service quality, and health outcomes. In reply, corrective policy measures are recommended to address these conditions at the root-cause level, in keeping with global goals of improved health for all.

Included in the coverage:

· Rural health disparities: the political economy.

· Rural health disparities: the economic argument.

· Social disorganization in rural communities.

· Rural health disparities and social disorder: public policy responses.

· The political economy: an era of institutional cynicism?

With its forceful argument for dealing with a growing but often invisible crisis, Application of the Political Economy to Rural Health Disparities makes a significant text for graduate and undergraduate programs in public and international affairs, planning and public policy, public health, public administration, and economics. Public health and advocacy organizations will also benefit from the book's vision.

Broadens and enriches an understanding of rural health disparities in the context of political theory Allows readers to gain an overview of the political economy approach Reviews exhaustively the key recent research into social theory and its connection to rural health disparities Provides an exhaustive review of both political and social theories and their application to rural health Fulfills a significant gap on this topic in the scientific literature

Autorentext
Monica M. Taylor, PhD, MPH , is on the faculty of the graduate and undergraduate programs in Healthcare Administration/Business at Colorado State University - Global Campus in Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA. Dr. Taylor also is contributing faculty in the Masters in Public Health program at the College of Health Sciences at Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; course chair/adjunct associate professor in the undergraduate program in Health Services Management at University of Maryland - University College in Adelphi, Maryland, USA; and, adjunct professor in the doctorate/masters program of Healthcare Administration at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Inhalt
Rural Health Disparities: The Political Economy.- Rural Health Disparities: The Economic Argument.- Social Disorganization in Rural Communities.- Rural Health Disparities: Public Policy Responses.- Conclusion/Author's Remarks.