1. explain why business services are disproportionately concentrated in global cities.

Reducing the direct cost of care at the point of service, e.g.Generally, this involves mechanisms that help overcome geographic, social and psychological barriers to accessing care and reducing out-of-pocket cost of treatment. The Bank supports governments to implement a variety of policies and programs to reduce inequalities in health outcomes and enhance financial protection. particularly for the poor and the vulnerable'. The strategy also stresses the importance of equity in health outcomes in a second strategic objective to 'improve the level and distribution of key health, nutrition and population outcomes. The strategy identifies “preventing poverty due to illness (by improving financial protection)” as one of its four strategic objectives and commits the Bank’s health team, both through its analytical work and its regional operations, to addressing vulnerability that arises from health shocks. The World Bank’s work in the area of health equity and financial protection is defined by the 2007 Health, Nutrition and Population Strategy. In general, poor health is disproportionately concentrated among the poor. Strong health systems improve the health status of the whole population, but especially of the poor among whom ill health and poor access to health care tends to be concentrated, as well as protect households from the potentially catastrophic effects of out-of-pocket health care costs.

In addition, poor families coping with illness might be forced to sell assets to cover medical expenses, borrow at high interest rates or become indebted to the community. It is also due to the considerable loss of income associated with illness in developing countries, both of the breadwinner, but also of family members who may be obliged to stop working or attending school to take care of an ill relative.

This is partly due to the costs of seeking health care, which include not only out-of-pocket spending on care (such as consultations, tests and medicine), but also transportation costs and any informal payments to providers. Ill health, in turn, is a major cause of poverty. But, the relationship is also related to other factors related to poverty, such as lack of information on appropriate health-promoting practices or lack of voice needed to make social services work for them. This relationship is financial: the poor cannot afford to purchase those things that are needed for good health, including sufficient quantities of quality food and health care. Poverty is a major cause of ill health and a barrier to accessing health care when needed.

1. explain why business services are disproportionately concentrated in global cities.