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Death and Development

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Lorentzen

    (Graduate School of Business Stanford University)

  • John McMillan
  • Romain Wacziarg

Abstract

Analyzing a variety of cross-national and sub-national data sources, we show that high adult mortality reduces economic growth by shortening time horizons. Higher adult mortality is associated with increased levels of risky behavior, higher fertility and lower investment in physical and human capital. Furthermore, the feedback effect from economic prosperity to better healthcare implies that mortality could be the source of a poverty-trap. In our regressions, adult mortality explains almost all of Africa's growth tragedy over the past forty years. Our analysis also supports grim forecasts of the long-run economic costs of the ongoing AIDS epidemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Lorentzen & John McMillan & Romain Wacziarg, 2006. "Death and Development," 2006 Meeting Papers 61, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed006:61
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    File URL: http://www.stanford.edu/~wacziarg/downloads/death.pdf
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    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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