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The Economic History of Medical Care

In: The Economics of Health and Medical Care

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  • R. M. Hartwell

    (Nuffield College)

Abstract

The history of medical care divides into two periods, separated by the Industrial Revolution. If the history of mankind can be described as ‘the history of poverty, dirt and disease’, these three major obstacles to wealth, health and population growth have been overcome only in the advanced economies of the last two centuries. Nevertheless, the inheritance of the pre-industrial age was (a) a great deal of medical knowledge which was ineffective operationally and (b) ideas of social control (of doctors) and prevention (e.g. of leprosy, plague, etc.). The Industrial Revolution (including an agricultural revolution and, therefore, a nutritional revolution) was followed by a public health revolution (mid-nineteenth century) and a medical revolution (only in the twentieth century). for most of history, medical care has been irrelevant in the determination of aggregate social indices whatever comfort it may have brought to particular individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • R. M. Hartwell, 1974. "The Economic History of Medical Care," International Economic Association Series, in: Mark Perlman (ed.), The Economics of Health and Medical Care, chapter 1, pages 3-20, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:intecp:978-1-349-63660-0_1
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-63660-0_1
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