Daniel E. Dawes: Overcoming Zero-Sum Thinking to Advance U.S. Population Health
05 Sep 2025
In a compelling article published by Nature Medicine, APB exclusive speaker Daniel E. Dawes J.D. (along with co-authors Guilamo-Ramos, Thimm-Kaiser, and Benzekri), challenges the pervasive zero-sum mindset around health equity reform in the U.S. Zero-sum thinking—the belief that improving health outcomes for marginalized populations necessarily comes at the expense of those already better off—stands as a formidable barrier to meaningful, equitable reforms. Dawes and colleagues dismantle this flawed logic by demonstrating how reducing health inequities benefits the entire population, not just disadvantaged groups.
In the article, they identify four common fallacies prevalent in healthcare discourse:
- Limited Resource Fallacy – The idea that investments in underserved groups deplete resources for others.
- Moral Hazard Fallacy – The notion that giving additional resources encourages dependency.
- Sacrifice Fallacy – The belief that equity requires sacrifice from advantaged groups.
- Trade-Off Fallacy – The assumption that gains for one group must mean losses for others.
Through data and persuasive argumentation, the authors refute each other, advocating that true health reform involves inclusive policies that uplift everyone.
A sought-after keynote speaker and respected figure in health policy circles, Dawes is known for his leadership in equity-driven U.S. healthcare reform. His involvement underscores urgency and legitimacy in dismantling harmful, zero-sum paradigms that hold back systemic change.