THE IMPACT OF THATCHERISM ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN BRITAIN

Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) was the United Kingdom's prime minister from 1979 to 1990. Her informal transatlantic alliance with U.S. President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989 played an important role in the promotion of an international neoliberal policy agenda that remains influential today....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of health services 2014-01, Vol.44 (1), p.53-71
Main Authors: Scott-Samuel, Alex, Bambra, Clare, Collins, Chik, Hunter, David J., McCartney, Gerry, Smith, Kat
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business
England
Female
Great Britain
Great Britain National health service
Heads of government
Health
Health Status Disparities
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Income - trends
Male
National health services
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism in Health Care
Personal Satisfaction
Policy Making
Prime ministers
Privatization
Public goods
Social democracy
Thatcher, Margaret Hilda (Roberts)
Trade liberalization
United Kingdom
United Kingdom - epidemiology
Well-being
Wellbeing
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Summary:Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) was the United Kingdom's prime minister from 1979 to 1990. Her informal transatlantic alliance with U.S. President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989 played an important role in the promotion of an international neoliberal policy agenda that remains influential today. Her critique of UK social democracy during the 1970s and her adoption of key neoliberal strategies, such as financial deregulation, trade liberalization, and the privatization of public goods and services, were popularly labeled Thatcherism. In this article, we consider the nature of Thatcherism and its impact on health and well-being during her period as prime minister and, to a lesser extent, in the years that follow; we focus mainly on Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). Thatcher's policies were associated with substantial increases in socioeconomic and health inequalities: these issues were actively marginalized and ignored by her governments. In addition, her public-sector reforms applied business principles to the welfare state and prepared the National Health Service for subsequent privatization.
ISSN:0020-7314
1541-4469
DOI:10.2190/HS.44.1.d