Addressing the corporate determinants of ill-health and health inequity: a scoping review and proposed solutions-oriented research agenda
 
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1
Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
 
2
Centre for Health Policy, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
 
3
Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
 
 
Publication date: 2023-04-27
 
 
Popul. Med. 2023;5(Supplement):A1762
 
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Despite the well-documented concerns about the myriad ways in which powerful business corporations negatively impact on health and equity, Discussions on how to fundamentally address excessive corporate power remain relatively uncommon and underdeveloped in the field of public health. This study aimed to review and categorise actions that have the potential to address excessive corporate power for the betterment of public health. Methods: A scoping review of diverse literature, including from the fields of public health, law, business, economics, and political science, was conducted to identify actions to address excessive corporate power. Categorisation was guided by Meagher’s ‘3Ds’ heuristic, which broadly classifies actions to curb or address corporate power into three groups: dispersion, democratisation, and dissolution. Where possible, we identified real world examples at the local, national, and international level where actions have been implemented, and collated potential implementation challenges. Results: We found 150 documents covering a broad range of policy, regulatory, and collective action levers. 15 strategies were identified and grouped under four interlinked strategic Objectives: i) disperse concentrated corporate wealth and power; ii) democratise corporate decision-making; iii) dissolve unchecked and harmful corporate power; and iv) developing and strengthening countervailing power structures. We found several examples from multiple regions where these actions have been effectively implemented. Conclusions: The 15 complementary strategies provide a blueprint for addressing the corporate determinants of ill-health and health inequity. Given that there are likely to be considerable political challenges in the implementation of many of these strategies, a rapid escalation in research, advocacy, activism, and collaboration is required to support efforts to implement and scale-up these strategies in and across many contexts.
 
CITATIONS (1):
1.
Corporate interest groups and their implications for global food governance: mapping and analysing the global corporate influence network of the transnational ultra-processed food industry
Scott Slater, Mark Lawrence, Benjamin Wood, Paulo Serodio, Phillip Baker
Globalization and Health
 
ISSN:2654-1459
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