Choose Your Parents, and Your Country, Carefully

This report in The Independent is not just about science or medicine - its about society and what sociologists call lifechances. Lifechances is a rather general term referring to a person’s chances of success in life - e.g. gaining a certain level of job, education, income and of course, their life expectancy - how long will they live.

This is of course, partly in the genes, but only partly. No matter how good your genetic stock, if you were unlucky enough to work in a coal mine in days gone by, your life expectancy would not be as good as someone working in an office.

These occupational differences still exist of course, though the precise difference changes over time.

Today’s article in The Independent though, refers us to the improvement in life expectancy not just over time, but between different countries.

If you’re impressed by the strides we’re making in the western countries, count your blessings and have a look at this.

OK, so the figures over time are improving in many countries. But do you fancy swapping places with a child in Burundi? I don’t.

It’s not just class which is important in determining your life chances. It also matters which country you are born and live in: nations too, are stratified.