Finance and economics | Economics focus

Health and wealth

Posted: Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 2229 hrs IST
Updated: Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 2229 hrs IST

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: not.

So even if the researchers at Brown and MIT are correct that increasing life expectancy does not quickly increase income per head, particular health improvements may well do so. Meanwhile, the lesson is that careful analysis should precede any sweeping statements about the economic benefits of specific policies. It may be best to make a case for improving health because it is a good thing in itself, rather than on the basis of presumed economic benefits that may not appear for generations.

* “Disease and Development: The Effect of Life Expectancy on Economic Growth”.

†“When Does Improving Health Raise GDP?” By Qamurul Ashraf, Ashley Lester and David Weil.

‡“Comments on Acemoglu and Johnson (2006)”; and “Comments on Ashraf, Lester and Weil (2008)”.

—© The Economist Newspaper Limited 2008...

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