‘Medicine is a social science, and politics is nothing else but medicine on a large scale. Medicine, as a social science, as the science of human beings, has the obligation to point out problems and to attempt their theoretical solution: the politician, the practical anthropologist, must find the means for their actual solution.’ Rudolf Virchow (1848)

The ‘Cost of Living’ site is for all people interested in the politics, economics and sociology of health and health care. We aim to provide a vibrant mix of topical comment pieces, analytical features, and contemporary reviews, related to health, medicine and healthcare.

The ‘Cost of Living’ blog is an independent website with no political affiliation. Our coverage of health-related issues is provided by informed and independent academics who wish to bring their views and research to a wider public audience. We seek to cover a broad range of topics and views related to health. Thus, no individual article can be seen as representing the views of the editorial collective as a whole.

The ‘Cost of Living’s’ strength lies in our unique blend of interdisciplinary perspectives on issues of concern to all who are interested in health and medicine.

Our content is informed by discussions of both enduring questions in health (such as health inequalities) and more immediate concerns (such as ongoing policy processes and practices).

We welcome contributions from all-comers please see the author guidelines.

The title of the blog ‘the cost of living’ is intended to reflect the changing social and political (as well as economic) costs that are associated with health, health care provision and welfare in the 21st century.

We are working in collaboration with the Medical Sociology Group and are funded by the British Sociological Association to provide this blog forum to enable engaged academics and members of the public to comment and reflect upon issues of the day.

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