Larry Adelman's question and others' about health consequences brings
up important basic ideas about the production of health in populations.
One analysis suggests economic growth has been bad for health in the US.
Granados, J. A. T. (2005). "Increasing mortality during the expansions
of the US economy, 1900-1996." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1194-1202.
That article was followed by many commentaries as the concept is
pretty controversial.
-Brenner, M. H. (2005). "Commentary: Economic growth is the basis of
mortality rate decline in the 20th century--experience of the United
States 1901-2000." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1214-1221.
-Catalano, R. and B. Bellows (2005). "Commentary: If economic
expansion threatens public health, should epidemiologists recommend
recession?" Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1212-1213.
-Edwards, R. D. (2005). "Commentary: Work, well-being, and a new
calling for countercyclical policy." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6):
1222-1225.
-Granados, J. A. T. (2005). "Response: On economic growth, business
fluctuations, and health progress." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1226-1233.
-Neumayer, E. (2005). "Commentary: The economic business cycle and
mortality." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1221-1222.
-Ruhm, C. J. (2005). "Commentary: Mortality increases during economic
upturns." Int. J. Epidemiol. 34(6): 1206-1211.
The background noise, so-to-speak, is that health keeps on improving
over time unless you screw up big. (viz the Former Soviet Union after
1991, or sub-Saharan Africa in the last few decades). Reasons are
many and likely country specific, but have more to do with improving
the social environment than other more commonly considered factors.
So it likely depends on how the script is written and played out.
If relative disparity declines in a recession, which is likely, then
health may improve quicker.
Eibner, C. and W. N. Evans (2005). "Relative Deprivation, Poor Health
Habits, and Mortality." J. Human Resources XL(3): 591-620.
and
Eibner, C. and W. N. Evans (2004). The income-health relationship and
the role of relative deprivation. Social inequality. K. M. Neckerman.
New York, Russell Sage Foundation: 545-568.
Stephen
Stephen Bezruchka MD, MPH
Departments of Health Services & Global Health
School of Public Health and Community Medicine
Box 357660
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington 98195-7660
USA
(206)932-4928
http://depts.washington.edu/hserv/faculty/?Bezruchka_Stephen
http://depts.washington.edu/eqhlth/
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