As medical care has improved, life expectancy has increased-on average, in the United States, by some two years between 1990 and 2000. But for the poorest group of Americans there has been no progress, and for poor women life expectancy has actually been declining.
In the United States, advancements in medical care have led to a general increase in life expectancy, with an average rise of two years from 1990 to 2000. This improvement reflects the benefits of better healthcare access and medical technology for many segments of the population.
However, this progress has not been universally experienced. The poorest Americans have seen no gains in life expectancy, and notably, poor women within this demographic have faced a decline in their life spans during the same period. This disparity highlights the significant inequality that persists in society, as discussed in Joseph E. Stiglitz's "The Price of Inequality."
