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A production function examination of the aggregate effects of nutrition

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  • Piper, Brian

Abstract

This paper estimates a production function where nutrition is modeled as having two distinct effects. First, increased levels of nutrition are found to have a positive and significant effect on the returns to future investments in human capital, making these net returns positive and significant. Increased nutrition similarly has a positive and significant effect on current returns to labour. Second, higher levels of nutrition are found to affect the future accumulation of labour, physical capital, and human capital. Eliminating the variance in nutrition among countries and allowing for adjustments in factor accumulation has the potential to reduce the variance of per capita GDP substantially.

Suggested Citation

  • Piper, Brian, 2014. "A production function examination of the aggregate effects of nutrition," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 293-307.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jmacro:v:40:y:2014:i:c:p:293-307
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmacro.2014.01.007
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    1. Mark E. McGovern & Aditi Krishna & Victor M. Aguayo & S.V. Subramanian, 2017. "A Review of the Evidence Linking Child Stunting to Economic Outcomes," CHaRMS Working Papers 17-03, Centre for HeAlth Research at the Management School (CHaRMS).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Nutrition; Production function; Economic growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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