Charting the disparities in health and wealth in the United States, the authors explain how the inequities arise, why they persist, and what makes them worse. They outline concrete policy proposals for reform - tapping bold ideas as well as incremental changes to existing programs.

Contributors James A. Morone and Lawrence R. Jacobs: Introduction: Health and Wealth in the Good Society Part I: An American Dilemma 1: Ichiro Kawachi: Why the USA Is Not Number One in Health 2: Lawrence R. Jacobs: Health Disparities in the Land of Equality Part II: Corrosive Markets 3: Deborah Stone: How Market Ideology Guarantees Racial Inequality 4: Mark Schlesinger: The Damages of the Market Panacea Part III: Silent Groups 5: Marie Gottschalk: Organized Labor's Incredible, Shrinking Social Vision 6: Connie A. Nathanson: Interest Groups and the Reproduction of Inequality Part IV: Chaotic Institutions 7: Mark A. Peterson: The Congressional Graveyard for Health Care Reform 8: Peter D. Jacobson and Elisabeth Selvin: Courts, Inequality, and Health Care Part V: The Territory Ahead: Little Victories 9: Colleen Grogan and Erik Patashnik: Medicaid at the Crossroads 10: Elizabeth H. Kilbreth and James A. Morone: Kids and Bureaucrats at the Grass Roots Part VI: The Territory Ahead: Thinking Big 11: Lawrence D. Brown: Incrementalism Adds Up? 12: Benjamin I. Page: What Government Can Do Lawrence R. Jacobs and James A. Morone: Conclusion: Prospering in the Age of Global Markets Essential Reading Index

"[This] book will surely resonate in the thoughts of policymakers, public health and public policy scholars, and anyone interested in a fairer and healthier society."--The New England Journal of Medicine "Americans want everyone to have access to decent health care--yet in an era of rising economic inequality, our country is moving ever further from that ideal. Healthy, Wealthy, and Fair asks why this has happened, and illuminates the way forward. The arguments assembled here are not timid. Many readers will heartily agree. Others will demur. But all will be enlightened and engaged."--Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, Harvard University and author of The Missing Middle: Working Families and the Future of American Social Policy "Healthy, Wealthy, and Fair makes crystal clear what many have felt and feared: that the nation's growing concentration and mal-distribution of wealth, besides breeding greater political inequality, financial corruption and money worship, also strikes at the health, physical well-being and life expectancy of less advantaged Americans."--Kevin Phillips, author of Wealth and Democracy: A Political History of the American Rich "Inequalities in wealth, income, knowledge and class cripple democratic citizens; inequalities in health care destroy lives. There is no more important issue for America than health care, and no more pressing need that that of health care reform. In Healthy, Wealthy, and Fair, distinguished health policy experts offer a clear portrait of the impact of market economics on fair health care and make a powerful case for bold health care reform. Vital reading for social scientists, policy makers and citizens alike."--Benjamin R. Barber, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, and author of Strong Democracy and Jihad vs. McWorld "[This] book will surely resonate in the thoughts of policymakers, public health and public policy scholars, and anyone interested in a fairer and healthier society."--The New England Journal of Medicine "Americans want everyone to have access to decent health care--yet in an era of rising economic inequality, our country is moving ever further from that ideal. Healthy, Wealthy, and Fair asks why this has happened, and illuminates the way forward. The arguments assembled here are not timid. Many readers will heartily agree. Others will demur. But all will be enlightened and engaged."--Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, Harvard University and author of The Missing Middle: Working Families and the Future of American Social Policy "Healthy, Wealthy, and Fair makes crystal clear what many have felt and feared: that the nation's growing concentration and mal-distribution of wealth, besides breeding greater political inequality, financial corruption and money worship, also strikes at the health, physical well-being and life expectancy of less advantaged Americans."--Kevin Phillips, author of Wealth and Democracy: A Political History of the American Rich "Inequalities in wealth, income, knowledge and class cripple democratic citizens; inequalities in health care destroy lives. There is no more important issue for America than health care, and no more pressing need that that of health care reform. In Healthy, Wealthy, and Fair, distinguished health policy experts offer a clear portrait of the impact of market economics on fair health care and make a powerful case for bold health care reform. Vital reading for social scientists, policy makers and citizens alike."--Benjamin R. Barber, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, and author of Strong Democracy and Jihad vs. McWorld

James A. Morone is Professor of Political Science at Brown University. He is the author of over 100 articles and essays and is a frequent contributor to The American Prospect and the London Review of Books. His most recent book is Hellfire Nation. Lawrence R. Jacobs is the Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies at the University of Minnesota. His most recent books include Inequality and American Democracy with Theda Skocpol and Politicians Don't Pander: Political Manipulation and the Loss of Democratic Responsiveness with Robert Y. Shapiro.