Read the essay at http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-213052
Complex systems models for causal inference in social epidemiology

Systems models, which by design aim to capture multi-level complexity, are a natural choice of tool for bridging the divide between social epidemiology and causal inference. In this commentary, we discuss the potential uses of complex systems models for improving our understanding of quantitative causal effects in social epidemiology.