Is More Health Care Good for Economic Growth?
Apparently less mortality from heart disease is good for growth. Here is Austin Frakt’s summary:
The slope of the high-income country line … is negative and statistically significant, indicating a higher [cardiovascular disease] mortality rate is associated with lower GDP per capita growth. There is no statistically significant relationship for low income countries.
Frakt doesn’t say so, but garden variety health policy commentary often implies that more health spending is bad for economic growth.
Interesting observation. More health care can be good for the economy, and not necessarily a drag on it.
This is superficialy surprising But it makes sense when you think about it.
It’s certainly consistent with the idea that healthier is wealthier.