Health inequalities are a multifaceted and provocative subject of current social and health science research. Relevant findings on socially determined health inequalities have so far primarily been presented at a descriptive level. According to this, the severity and frequency of diseases, as well as the risk of premature death, are determined by social factors. However, it remains unclear how this relationship can be explained. The determinants and mechanisms of health inequality are therefore at the center of this volume, which for the first time brings together contributions from leading experts in international research. Explanatory perspectives and their consequences are discussed along macro-, meso-, and micro-analytical approaches. This volume is essential reading for both science and practice in the field.