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Malaria and growth

Author

Listed:
  • McCarthy, F. Desmond
  • Wolf, Holger
  • Yi Wu

Abstract

The authors explore the two-sided link between malaria morbidity and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita growth. Climate significantly affects cross-country differences in malaria morbidity. Tropical location is not destiny, however: greater access to rural health care and greater income equality are associated with lower malaria morbidity. But the interpretation of this link is ambiguous: does greater income inequality allow for improved anti-malaria efforts, or does malaria itself increase income inequality? Allowing for two-sided causation, the authors find a significant negative causal effect running from malaria morbidity to the growth rate of GDP per capita. In about a quarter of their sample countries, malaria is estimated to reduce GDP per capita growth by at least 0.25 percentage point a year.

Suggested Citation

  • McCarthy, F. Desmond & Wolf, Holger & Yi Wu, 2000. "Malaria and growth," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2303, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:2303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Asenso-Okyere, Kwadwo & Asante, Felix A. & Tarekegn, Jifar & Andam, Kwaw S., 2009. "The linkages between agriculture and malaria: Issues for policy, research, and capacity strengthening," IFPRI discussion papers 861, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Laxminarayan, Ramanan, 2003. "Does Reducing Malaria Improve Household Living Standards?," RFF Working Paper Series dp-03-50, Resources for the Future.
    3. Martine AUDIBERT & Pascale COMBES MOTEL & Alassane DRABO, 2010. "Global Burden of Disease and Economic Growth," Working Papers 201036, CERDI.
    4. Laxminarayan, Ramanan, 2003. "Does Reducing Malaria Improve Household Living Standards?," Discussion Papers 10633, Resources for the Future.
    5. Isreal, Akingba Idowu Opeoluwa & Kaliappan, Shivee & Hamzah, Hanny Zurina, 2019. "Impact of Health Capital on Total Factor Productivity in Singapore," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 53(2), pages 83-98.
    6. Chien-Yuan Sher & Ho Ting Wong & Yu-Chun Lin, 2020. "The Impact of Dengue on Economic Growth: The Case of Southern Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-12, January.
    7. John Ssozi & Simplice A. Asongu, 2016. "The Comparative Economics of Catch-up in Output per Worker, Total Factor Productivity and Technological Gain in Sub-Saharan Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 28(2), pages 215-228, June.
    8. Emily Ying Yang Chan & Tiffany Sze Tung Sham & Tayyab Salim Shahzada & Caroline Dubois & Zhe Huang & Sida Liu & Kevin K.C. Hung & Shelly L.A. Tse & Kin On Kwok & Pui-Hong Chung & Ryoma Kayano & Rajib , 2020. "Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-28, August.
    9. Sue Bowden & Domna Maria Michailidou & Alvaro Pereira, 2008. "Chasing mosquitoes: An exploration of the relationship between economic growth, poverty and the elimination of malaria in Southern Europe in the 20th century," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(8), pages 1080-1106.
    10. Larochelle, Catherine & Dalton, Timothy J., 2006. "Transient Health Shocks and Agricultural Labor Demand in Rice-producing Households in Mali," 2006 Annual Meeting, August 12-18, 2006, Queensland, Australia 25314, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    11. Jack, William, 2001. "The public economics of tuberculosis control," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 79-96, August.
    12. Jean-Claude Berthélemy & Josselin Thuilliez & Ogobara Doumbo & Jean Gaudart, 2013. "Malaria and protective behaviours: is there a malaria trap?," Post-Print inserm-00838508, HAL.
    13. Stratton, Leeanne & O'Neill, Marie S. & Kruk, Margaret E. & Bell, Michelle L., 2008. "The persistent problem of malaria: Addressing the fundamental causes of a global killer," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 854-862, September.
    14. repec:ilo:ilowps:375955 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Clemens, Michael A. & Kenny, Charles J. & Moss, Todd J., 2007. "The Trouble with the MDGs: Confronting Expectations of Aid and Development Success," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 735-751, May.
    16. Barofsky, Jeremy & Anekwe, Tobenna D. & Chase, Claire, 2015. "Malaria eradication and economic outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Uganda," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 118-136.
    17. Kodila-Tedika, Oasis, 2014. "Education, paludisme et moustiquaires imprégnées d'insecticide en Afrique sub-saharienne," MPRA Paper 55913, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Filmer,Deon P., 2002. "Fever and its treatment among the more and less poor in Sub-Saharan Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2798, The World Bank.
    19. Wako, Hassen, 2011. "Effectiveness of foreign aid in sub-Saharan Africa: Does disaggregating aid into bilateral and multilateral components make a difference?," MPRA Paper 72617, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Sue Bowden & Paul Mosley, 2008. "Historical roots of poverty: A symposium," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(8), pages 987-995.

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