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Population Health, Economic Implications of

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Abstract

Population health is not only a consequence but also a cause of a high level of income. Healthier people are more productive in work. Healthy children have better school attendance and cognitive development, while longer prospective working lifespans encourage investments in education. Longer lifespans can also increase saving and wealth accumulation as an extended retirement becomes more likely. The beneficial effects of population health can be seen both at the individual and macroeconomic levels, while the continuing high burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa poses a substantial challenge to its economic development.

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Canning, D., Bloom, D.E. (2018). Population Health, Economic Implications of. In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95189-5_2661

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