Growth and Epidemic Diseases

Hans Gersbach and Clive Bell

No 4800, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: We study the formation of human capital and its transmission across generations when a society is assailed by an epidemic disease such as AIDS. We establish that the disease can severely retard economic growth, even to the point of leading to an economic collapse. We also show that the epidemic may exacerbate inequality. Pooling health risks in the society puts the society on a ‘make and break’ road.

Keywords: Human capital; Growth; Aids; Epidemic diseases; Pooling Risks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E13 I12 I21 O41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-hea and nep-mac
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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