Income inequality in states impacts health differently, challenging relative income hypothesis.
The study looked at how income inequality in different states in the US affects people's self-reported health. They used data from 1996-2009 and found that in states with more equal incomes, there was a small positive link between income inequality and health. In states with less equal incomes, there was a small negative link. However, these effects were not very strong. Overall, the results did not support the idea that income inequality has a big impact on health.