Economic development and health, Biology

Assignment Help:

Economic Development and Health

The contribution of good health to improved growth and development prospects (or its opposite i.e. the contribution of poor health to reduced economic growth and development) is widely recognised. It is postulated in terms of:


(i) Nutrition links to labour productivity and growth;
(ii) Linkage between fertility and population dynamics to growth; and
(iii)Child and youth health links to growth.


This is however not a one-way relationship as increase in wealth (via economic development and the resultant investment in health services) is considered good for health. In a study of cross-country regressions by Lant Pritchett and Lawrence Summers (1996), the authors demonstrate a strong causative effect between increased income and reduced infant mortality. Based on their analysis, they point out that if the developing world’s growth rate had been 1.5 percentage points higher in the 1980s, half a million infant deaths could have been averted. The history of modern economic growth since the early 19th century demonstrates that with growth, life expectancy has improved and infant mortality has declined. These indicators have improved due to an increased understanding of the causes of ill health, such as poor sanitation, as well as due to development of technologies (e.g. vaccines and antibiotics). Many diseases are not fatal, but disabling. The economic burden of such illnesses for the affected includes loss of income, and out-of-pocket expenditure on health. The economic burden for the country includes low productivity and the direct costs of treatment. During the second half of 20th century, the diffusion of technology and knowledge to low-income countries contributed to increasing the access to improved sanitary conditions and new medicines. This was possible due to increase in wealth without which the improved services could not have been afforded. Substantial improvements in health can occur even at low income levels. As a result of complex synergies among income levels and expenditure on education, better housing, clean water, sanitation systems, infrastructure, health services, etc., people all over the world live almost 25 years longer today than they did at similar income levels in 1900. However, it is equally important to note that the relationship between health and wealth is not linear.

With the attainment of a critical threshold, health gains will result even at low income levels. At such a point, even small increases in economic growth would result in high improvement in health outcomes. The importance of a synergy between the inter-sectoral programmes are underscored as they often improve the effectiveness of specific health programmes especially at low income levels. For example, investment in roads allow pregnant mothers to get to delivery services on time and vaccines to arrive at health centres without having the cold chain broken. Basic education is demonstrated to enable mothers to make the right choices when faced with health complications.

 

312_Economic Development and Health.png

 Impact of Wealth on Health (GDP/Capita)


Improved health can also promote economic growth through a demographic link.Though not directly obvious, shifts in demographic structure of a population can result by way of more children surviving to adulthood with a consequent increase in the proportion of economically active to dependent people. This ‘demographic dividend’ is contended to have the potential to be a key driver of economic growth provided the broader policy environment allows these workers to find productive employment. With such synergic achievement of intra-sectoral linkages, the changing age-structure of the population is expected to result in rapid increases in the per- capita income of the population. In East Asia, for example, between 1965 to 1990 the working age population grew several times faster than the dependent population. Several studies (e.g. Bloom and Williamson, 1998) have attributed this shift to the declining infant mortality brought about by the introduction of new health technologies such as antibiotics and anti-malarial drugs as well as general improvements in sanitation and clean water. The authors contend that these health improvements were responsible for as much as one-third of the region’s post-war economic growth.

Just as good health facilitates economic growth, poor health can severely constrain it. This is particularly true of the poor countries which typically have the greatest disease burdens. Most obviously, poor health can reduce economic development by reducing the quantity and the quality of labour available to an economy. This in turn reduces the number of hours worked impacting adversely on the national income generated. With such unhealthy trends continuing over a longer period, the rate of growth of an economy will be severely affected. Such weak growth trends, by extension, squeeze the amount of resources available with the government and individuals to invest on other essentials of progress viz. education, health, living conditions, etc. This would further exacerbate the vicious circle of poor health and poverty.

 


Related Discussions:- Economic development and health

What is genetic mapping, How can the concept of recombination frequency be ...

How can the concept of recombination frequency be used in genetic mapping? Genetic mapping is the determination of the location of the genes in a chromosome. By determining

Antimicrobial prophylaxis - controversial, Antimicrobial Prophylaxis - Cont...

Antimicrobial Prophylaxis - Controversial The need for prophylaxis in breast surgery, herniorraphy and other "clean" surgical procedures has been controversial. Medical Letter

Define abbe condenser of microscope, Define Abbe Condenser of Microscope? ...

Define Abbe Condenser of Microscope? It is present beneath the stage, as shown in Figure. It collects and focuses a cone of light on the slide. Its position can be adjusted ver

Fertilizers and fertilizer management, Fertilizers and Fertilizer Managemen...

Fertilizers and Fertilizer Management Fertilizers, in a broad sense, include all materials that are added to soils to supply certain elements essential to the growth of plants

Left coronary artery, The left coronary artery arises from the left posteri...

The left coronary artery arises from the left posterior aortic sinus. It runs to the left behind the pulmonary trunk and appears between left auricle and pulmonary trunk. In that p

Fats requirement in pectic ulcer, Q. Fats requirement in pectic ulcer? ...

Q. Fats requirement in pectic ulcer? Fats: These delay the gastric emptying. The products of fat digestion in the small intestine stimulate entrogastrone, which inhibits gastri

Define natural adulteration - types of adulteration, Define Natural Adulter...

Define Natural Adulteration - Types of Adulteration? These are the chemicals, organic compounds or radicals which are naturally present in the food and are harmful to the healt

Explain coronary anatomy, Q. Explain Coronary Anatomy? The main coronar...

Q. Explain Coronary Anatomy? The main coronary trunks can be considered to lie in one of two orthogonal planes. The anterior descending and the posterior descending coronary ar

Kingdom protista, how many phylum does kingdom protista has?

how many phylum does kingdom protista has?

Categories of secondary inductions, Categories of Secondary Inductions ...

Categories of Secondary Inductions The secondary inductions are categorized into two types. 1) Instructive Interaction : In such type of an interaction the inducing tissue

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd