Social class differences in mortality using the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification — too little, too soon: a reply to Chandola

Chandola’s (2000; Social Science and Medicine, 50(5), 641–649) claims that the UK National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) is not significantly related to mortality are examined. It is shown that this result is likely to be an artefact of the data and methods he uses. Other findings and interpretations in his paper are also critically discussed. In the process, various theoretical, measurement and analysis issues relating to the use of classifications such as the NS-SEC in health research are reviewed.