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Population, Health and Growth

Author

Listed:
  • Azmat Gani
  • Siope Vakataki 'Ofa

    (Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
    United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Thailand)

Abstract

Among the seventeen sustainable sustainable development goals recently approved by the United Nation's includes the goal of 'ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages' with a specific target on ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria among others by 2030. Health burden as one of the many challenges (among others) faced by the small Pacific Island countries where communicable diseases (tuberculosis and malaria) as well as non-communicable diseases (cancer, disease of the heart, stroke and obesity) are on the rise. The presence of non-communicable diseases is the strongest visible evidence in the Pacific Island countries. This is likely to have a strong deterimental effect on the long-term development of several of these countries. In light of this and the United Nations sustainable development goal of ensuring healthy lives, this article examines the effect of population health on economic growth in a sample of small Pacific Island countries. The analytical framework adopts the neoclassical growth model where it attempts to empirically assess the impact of tuberculosis, obesity and cholesterol levels on population aged twenty-five and above by utilising cross-country data pooled across the years 1992 to 2009. The estimation phase controls for several potential effects on growth. The empirical findings obtained through regression analysis reveal a negative and statistically significant correlation of obesity and cholesterol levels on economic growth of Pacific Island countries. We find negative but statistically insignificant effect of tuberculosis on growth. Gross fixed capital formation and human capital are found to be other significant contributors to growth. Our major conclusion is that population health does matter for long-term sustained economic growth. In terms of policy implications, Government interventions through providing more funding to curtail the spread of lifestyle diseases as shown in this study can lead to better health outcomes and aid the process of economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Azmat Gani & Siope Vakataki 'Ofa, 2018. "Population, Health and Growth," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 52(3), pages 169-181, July-Sept.
    • Handle: RePEc:jda:journl:vol.52:year:2018:issue3:pp:169-181
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    File URL: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/677941
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    Cited by:

    1. Lee Worden & Rae Wannier & Nicole A Hoff & Kamy Musene & Bernice Selo & Mathias Mossoko & Emile Okitolonda-Wemakoy & Jean Jacques Muyembe Tamfum & George W Rutherford & Thomas M Lietman & Anne W Rimoi, 2019. "Projections of epidemic transmission and estimation of vaccination impact during an ongoing Ebola virus disease outbreak in Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as of Feb. 25, 2019," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Chin, Marshall H. & King, Paula T. & Jones, Rhys G. & Jones, Bryn & Ameratunga, Shanthi N. & Muramatsu, Naoko & Derrett, Sarah, 2018. "Lessons for achieving health equity comparing Aotearoa/New Zealand and the United States," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(8), pages 837-853.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tuberculosis; Obesity; Cholestrol; Growth; Pacific;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • O56 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Oceania

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