Creating Global Health
When the global social determinants of health are taken into account, it can be argued that affluent nations have responsibility for the health of newcomers. Affluent nations have played a role in shaping the health of the global poor, many of whom migrate to escape the conditions that are created by the global social determinants of health and that adversely impact their health. Although there are many ways that affluent countries can affect the health of people in poor countries, this chapter focuses on the implications of poverty for health, and how affluent countries have contributed to global poverty, as illustrated with two examples: international tax law and tax injustice, and environmental harms, including climate change. Given the pivotal role of affluent nations in the global social determinants of health, these nations have violated a negative duty not to harm others and therefore have a moral responsibility to compensate for that harm.