The Lazarus drug: the impact of antiretroviral therapy on economic growth

Anna Tompsett

Journal of Development Economics, 2020, vol. 143, issue C

Abstract: Does better population health lead to growth in per capita income? Theory is ambiguous and empirical evidence is very limited. In 2001, a steep fall in antiretroviral (ARV) drug prices triggered rapid and massive expansion of ARV therapy coverage in lower-income countries. Exploiting the sharp resultant changes in population health, I show that ARV therapy coverage expansion led to growth in GDP per capita. The positive effects on growth most likely persist for around four years. ARV therapy coverage expansion could explain around a third of the sub-Saharan African “growth miracle”.

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:deveco:v:143:y:2020:i:c:s0304387818309337

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2019.102409

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