Dear All,
Following Bill Swan's recent contribution I'll raise an issue that could
generate some debate on this list...
An editorial in the January 1998 edition of CHE News (from the Centre for
Health Economics, University of York) states: "International comparisons
of population health have often relied upon such indicators as life
expectancy or the infant mortality rate. The usefulness of these
indicators, and indeed the purpose of such comparisons is open to question-
after all, population health is influenced by many factors, perhaps most of
which lie outside the control of any health care system."
The Economic Journal in the same month published an article by Amartya Sen
that takes a contrary view (Sen 1998). Sen urges economists to make greater
use of mortality statistics such as life expectancy. ("Mortality statistics
can form a major component of the informational base of economic
analysis"(p.23)). Further, comparisons of mortality (between nations, men
and women and different races) provide an important indicator of the
inequalities that exist in the world.
Given this divergence of view I would be interested in finding out the
thinking of other economists on this issue. Should we follow Sen's
suggestion and make greater use of mortality statistics in economic analysis?
Refs:
CHE News (1998) No. 3 University of York.
Sen A. (1998) "Mortality as an indicator of economic success and failure",
Economic Journal, Vol. 108 January p. 1-25.
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Philip Clarke
Research Fellow
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health
Australian National University
ACT 0200
Australia
Ph: +61 (02) 62495008(w) +61 (02) 62490740 (Fax)
email: [log in to unmask]
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