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Spurring economic growth through human development: research results and guidance for policymakers

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  • Bloom, David
  • Khoury, Alexander
  • Kufenko, Vadim
  • Prettner, Klaus

Abstract

Education, general health, and reproductive health are key indicators of human development. Investments in these domains can also promote economic growth. This paper argues for the importance of human development related investments based on i) a theoretical economic growth model with poverty traps, ii) a literature review of evidence that different human development related investments can promote growth, and iii) own empirical analyses that aim at estimating the relative contribution of different human development indicators to economic growth across heterogeneous growth regimes. Our results suggest the following associations: (i) a one-child decrease in the total fertility rate corresponds to a 2 percentage point (pp) increase in annual per capita GDP growth in the short run (5 years) and 0.5 pp higher annual growth in the mid to long run (35 years), (ii) a 10% increase in life expectancy at birth corresponds to a 1 pp increase in annual GDP per capita growth in the short run and 0.4 pp higher growth in the mid to long run, and (iii) a one-year increase in average educational attainment corresponds to a 0.7 pp increase in annual growth in the short run and 0.3 pp higher growth in the mid to long run. By contrast, infrastructure proxies are not significantly associated with subsequent growth in any of the models estimated.

Suggested Citation

  • Bloom, David & Khoury, Alexander & Kufenko, Vadim & Prettner, Klaus, 2021. "Spurring economic growth through human development: research results and guidance for policymakers," CEPR Discussion Papers 16643, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16643
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    2. David E. Bloom & Michael Kuhn & Klaus Prettner, 2022. "Modern Infectious Diseases: Macroeconomic Impacts and Policy Responses," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 60(1), pages 85-131, March.
    3. William Crown & Dhwani Hariharan & Jennifer Kates & Gary Gaumer & Monica Jordan & Clare Hurley & Yiqun Luan & Allyala Nandakumar, 2023. "Analysis of economic and educational spillover effects in PEPFAR countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(12), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Parveen Kumar & Rajbeer Kaur & Magdalena Radulescu & Branimir Kalaš & Alina Hagiu, 2025. "Drivers of Environmental Sustainability, Economic Growth, and Inequality: A Study of Economic Complexity, FDI, and Human Development Role in BRICS+ Nations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-28, May.
    5. Elisabete Nogueira & Sofia Gomes & João M. Lopes, 2022. "The Key to Sustainable Economic Development: A Triple Bottom Line Approach," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Rocha de Jesus Fernandes, Anderson & Lanza Queiroz, Bernardo, 2024. "Aging, education and some other implications for the silver dividend in developing countries: Evidence from Brazil," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O20 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - General

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