Health, Human Capital, and Development

Posted: 18 Oct 2010

See all articles by C. Hoyt Bleakley

C. Hoyt Bleakley

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business; University of Chicago

Date Written: March 2010

Abstract

How much does disease depress development in human capital and income around the world? I discuss a range of micro evidence, which finds that health is both human capital itself and an input to producing other forms of human capital. I use a standard model to integrate these results and suggest a reinterpretation of much of the micro literature. I then discuss the aggregate implications of micro estimates but note the complications in extrapolating to general equilibrium, especially because of health's effect on population size. I also review the macro evidence on this topic, which consists of either cross-country comparisons or measuring responses to health shocks. Micro estimates are one to two orders of magnitude smaller than the cross-country relationship but nevertheless imply high benefit-to-cost ratios from improving certain forms of health.

Suggested Citation

Bleakley, C. Hoyt, Health, Human Capital, and Development (March 2010). Annual Review of Economics, Vol. 2, pp. 283-310, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1693049 or http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.economics.102308.124436

C. Hoyt Bleakley (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business ( email )

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

University of Chicago ( email )

1101 East 58th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

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