“Healthconomic Crises”: Public Health and Neoliberal Economic Crises

Rapid adjustment to free-market systems, which often takes place during economic crises, poses serious problems for public health outcomes. At a time of economic crisis, it is particularly important to understand the relationship between economic circumstances and public health outcomes. As more countries are forced to adopt free-market models of economic austerity, a number of threats to public health prospects emerge. Therefore we suggest that we are not only in an economic crisis, but also in a health crisis—a “healthconomic crisis.” Further exploration of these issues is needed if we are to recommend more sustainable global public health solutions during the coming years.