Provision

The ''new inequality'' of the 1980''s and 1990''s has recently given rise to a lively debate about the relationship between economic growth and income distribution. This debate is the background of the study by Lee Soltow an Jan Luiten van Zanden, who, staying close to the sources, have mapped in some detail the long-term development of income and wealth inequality in the Netherlands between c. 1500 and the present. Their starting point is the hypothesis of Simon Kuznets that income inequality increased during the first phase of modern economic growth, but that in the second phase, which begins in most Western countries around the turn of the twentieth century, a marked levelling out of income differences followed. The development of inequality during the Golden Age, when growth resulted in a marked increase in inequality seems to confirm this idea. However, the analysis of the connection between growth and inequality in the nineteenth and twentieth century leads them to question the Kuznets hypothesis. Lee Soltow is professor of Economics at Ohio University (Athens). Among his publications on the subject are: ''Distribution of wealth and income in the United States in 1978'' (1989) and ''Men and wealth in the United States 1850-1870'' (1975). Jan Luiten van Zanden is professor of Economic and Social History at Utrecht University (the Netherlands). Among his publications on the subject are: ''The economic history of the Netherlands 1914-1955: a small open economy in the ''long'' twentieth century'' (1998). ''The economic development of the Netherlands since 1870'' (1996) and ''The rise and decline of Holland''s economy: merchant capitalism and the labour market'' (1993).

There is increasing recognition that socio-economic and cultural factors are prime determinants of health and health care. What factors contribute to the acceptance of community health financing or a vaccination program? What are the needs of the growing group of elderly people or psychatric patients? What social and cultural factors should be taken into account to operationalize all ambitious plans to improve reproductive health care? These are only some of the questions health professionals and health planners are confronted with. Anthropological research can be a tremendous support to health programmes, by giving insights in the perspective of recipients and providers of health programmes and health care, and also by providing managers and implementors of these programmes with mechanisms and strategies that could lead to a reorientation of health care programmes and policies towards the actual needs of the target group. The need for training in anthropology of health and health care has been expressed by social scientists involved in multi-disciplinary health research projects, and public health staff at different levels, who are involved in providing health education and primary health care and who - in implementing the health programmes - are confronted with difficulties related to the socio-cultural context in which they work. It is for this reason that the International Course in Anthropology of Health and Health Care has been developed. This course has been designed for research officers of public health institutes, coordinators of community health care programmes, project staff, responsible for the implementation of various health programmes, public health professionals, social science lecturers at universities, and junior social scientists, who intend to specialize in Anthropology of Health and Health Care. The course takes a multi-disciplinary approach and focuses on a number of important problem areas and issues, such as vaccination, reproductive health and AIDS, equity and community health financing, self-care and the use and distribution of pharmaceuticals. The manual in its earlier editions has been used since years for teaching in the field of applied medical anthropology and public health in academic institutions worldwide.