From this week’s reading, inequalities in mortality are larger for causes amenable to behavior change, medical intervention and injury prevention. As said in the articles, these inequalities are indeed a reflection of differences between low and high educated people in “an array of resources”. Higher educated people are more likely to engage in health-related behaviors like quitting smoking and exercise and have access to medical interventions like disease management programs. Inequalities in mortality reflect the inequalities of distribution of resources. Link and Phelan have proposed that SES is a “fundamental cause” of inequalities in mortality. And this “fundamental cause” theory holds in the European populations. I am curious that whether there is similar research done with data from Asian countries and if this theory also holds in Asia? And if that holds, how should the policymakers use this information to improve these inequalities?