Abstract
This research highlights some of the fundamental weaknesses in the market-based economic approach for a developing society. This study of health care consumption by subaltern groups in India reveals that consumers believe that greater reliance on a market-based system has contributed to a decline in the state health institutions, proliferation of private clinics, and a close physician-pharmaceutical firm nexus. Accordingly, instead of creating a more efficient system of health care delivery, market forces are instrumental in marginalization of the subaltern sections of the population. Ramifications of these findings include a suggested expansion in quality of life marketing framework to include the concept of consumer empowerment with specific emphases on dimensions of control and exclusion.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 162-172 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Macromarketing |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2007 |
Keywords
- Development
- Health care
- Neoliberalism
- Quality of life
- Subaltern consumers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Marketing