Neoliberalism: what it is, how it affects health and what to do about it

Since the 1970s, neoliberalism has been the dominant economic and political philosophy among global institutions and some Western governments. Its three main strategies are: privatisation and competitive markets; reduced public expenditure on social services and infrastructure; and deregulation to enhance economic activity and ensure freedom of 'choice'. Generally, these measures have negatively affected the health and wellbeing of communities. In New Zealand, privatisation and competition led to income inequality and an unequal distribution of the 'determinants of health', a burden borne disproportionately by children, the poor, and by Maori and Pacific people. Limiting health expenditure led to inequalities in access to services with restructuring in the 1990s, subverting the service culture of the health system. Failure to regulate for the protection of citizens has undermined health and safety systems, the security of work and collective approaches to health improvement. There has been some retreat from neoliberalism in New Zealand, but we can do more to focus on 'upstream' health initiatives, to recognise that social investment, including adequate funding of services, returns benefits far in excess of any costs, and to make sure that social and cultural equity goals are achieved.