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The impact of health on economic growth: A narrative literature review

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  • Fumagalli, Elena
  • Pinna Pintor, M
  • Suhrcke, Marc

Abstract

The nexus between health and economic growth is a dynamic and complex relationship. This article reviews the empirical evidence that has sought to assess the causal impact of health on growth, understood as growth in GDP per capita, and focusing on cross-country and selected single country studies. The review largely provides evidence in favour of a positive effect of population health on economic growth. However, the multitude of the factors at play and the possible bidirectional relationship between health and growth pose a challenge for the quantification of the effect and for the relative importance of the underlying mechanisms.

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  • Fumagalli, Elena & Pinna Pintor, M & Suhrcke, Marc, 2024. "The impact of health on economic growth: A narrative literature review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:143:y:2024:i:c:s0168851024000496
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105039
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    Cited by:

    1. Pinna Pintor, Matteo & Fumagalli, Elena & Suhrcke, Marc, 2024. "The impact of health on labour market outcomes: A rapid systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).

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