Mortality, morbidity and economic growth.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Development Economics
• Public Health

Background:

• The relationship between population health and economic growth is a key area of research, with existing studies yielding inconsistent findings.
• Previous research often focused solely on mortality, neglecting the impact of morbidity on economic development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reassess and extend influential studies on health and economic growth using updated data and broader country coverage.
• To investigate the impact of both mortality and morbidity on per capita GDP growth.
• To provide bounding set estimates for a more robust analysis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 135 countries between 1990 and 2014.
• Inclusion of morbidity alongside mortality, using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
• Employing bounding set strategies instead of point estimates to define the range of effects.

Main Results:

• Reductions in mortality rates are found to promote per capita GDP growth.
• Decreases in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) also positively correlate with economic growth.
• The magnitude of the health impact on GDP growth is moderate but statistically significant and consistent for both mortality and DALYs.

Conclusions:

• Improving population health, encompassing both longevity and reduced disability, is a significant driver of economic growth.
• Policy interventions aimed at enhancing health outcomes can yield tangible economic benefits.
• The study provides updated, robust evidence supporting the health-economic growth nexus.