Health and Development

The Lancet, Vol. 362, August 30, 2003

1 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2006

See all articles by Jennifer Prah Ruger

Jennifer Prah Ruger

University of Pennsylvania - School of Social Policy & Practice; University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine

Abstract

Viewing good health as a means to further economic development is a useful strategy for elevating the status of health-related investment. However, this view also has limitations, particularly in acknowledging the intrinsic value of health and understanding development more broadly. This Article presents an alternative view of health and economic development that sees health as both intrinsically and instrumentally valuable, but takes health as an end in itself. This viewpoint sees the opportunity for health and health care as critical components of development and recognizes the interrelatedness among health and other valuable social ends (i.e., education) and at the same time emphasizes health's importance for individual agency - i.e., people's ability to live a life they value. It is important that any discussion of health and economic development take note of the significance of participation for effective and sustainable reforms. Active agency is critically important for both health and economic development as indeed they are important for each other.

Keywords: health, development

JEL Classification: I10

Suggested Citation

Prah Ruger, Jennifer, Health and Development. The Lancet, Vol. 362, August 30, 2003, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=950878

Jennifer Prah Ruger (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - School of Social Policy & Practice ( email )

3701 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6214
United States

University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine

423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States