Published in The Lancet Public Health, the research article Financialisation: a 21st Century Commercial Determinant of Health Equity by Sharon Friel, Ashley Schram, Nick Frank, Megan Arthur, Bel Townsend, and Hridesh Gajurel explores how financial markets shape public health and equity. The authors argue that the dominance of financial capital has deepened social inequalities and weakened public goods and services.
The article emphasises the urgent need for accountability in financial practices that impact health and planetary well-being. It calls on the global public health community to challenge profit-driven models through interdisciplinary research, policy advocacy, and civil society action. The authors highlight the role of financial actors in driving inequality and stress the importance of shifting economic priorities from shareholder profits to public health and social equity. They propose alternative frameworks that prioritise collective well-being over financial speculation, advocating for systemic reforms to ensure health equity.
