
Across the UK, there are large inequalities in population health. For example, people living in the North of England are 20% more likely to die under the age of 75 than those in the South. The way public resources are allocated to local places could influence this health divide. However, in recent years, there have been dramatic changes in how these resources are allocated. Since 2010 local government budgets have been cut by 30% and the mechanisms used to distribute resources between local areas is changing.
In my PhD, I will investigate the trends in local government budgets, with particular interest in cultural, environmental, and planning services, to determine how the changing pattern of resources will influence health inequalities.