Box 4.

Key questions for a future research agenda on governance and urban health equity

• What does participatory governance mean in theory and practice in different contexts?

• How has evidence of health inequalities and inequities been used to identify, implement and evaluate governance innovations to improve health equity?

• Under what conditions is a health equity perspective more likely to inform public policy?

• How can a health equity discourse influence governance?

• How is urban governance interpreted, organized, developed in different contexts?

• What are the constraints and possibilities for urban governance to achieve health equity in different contexts?

• What factors/mechanisms enhance governance in ways that promote health equity?

• What are the attributes and impact on health inequity of social networks and movements?

• What is the influence of national governments on local governance, and what are characteristics of national policy that enables and supports governance for health and equity at the local level?

• What is the interface between international stakeholders and national and local governance and how does it affect health equity?

• What are the barriers and assets for meaningful, effective participation and how to overcome/ maximize them?

• To what extent and in which contexts does participation contribute to governance for health equity?

• Which institutions have the capacity – power, resources - to shape policy agendas?

• Why has there been a persistent increase in health inequities within and between urban settings in spite of deepening participation and a variety of innovative governance arrangements?

• What are the challenges, consequences of the increased use of urban governance? To what extent has the municipal government the capacity to address the underlying and structural determinants of health inequities? (or to implement the decisions of partnerships and coalitions).