Disease Control and Inequality Reduction: Evidence from a Tuberculosis Testing and Vaccination Campaign

Aline Bütikofer () and Kjell G Salvanes
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Aline Bütikofer: Norwegian School of Economics
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Aline Bütikofer

No 2018-048, Working Papers from Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group

Abstract: This paper examines the economic impact of a tuberculosis control program launched in Norway in 1948. In the 1940s, Norway had one of the highest tuberculosis infection rates in Europe, affecting about 85 percent of the inhabitants. To lower the disease burden, the Norwegian government launched a large-scale tuberculosis testing and vaccination campaign that substantially reduced tuberculosis infection rates among children. We find that cohorts in school during and after the campaign in municipalities with high tuberculosis prevalence gained more in terms of education, earnings, longevity, and height following this public health intervention. Furthermore, the gains from the disease control program are not limited to the initially treated cohorts but also affect their children. The results also suggest that individuals from a low socioeconomic background benefited more from the intervention and we present new evidence that a narrowing of the gap in childhood health can lead to a reduction in socioeconomic inequalities in adulthood.

Keywords: tuberculosis; vaccination; health inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 H75 I14 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-07
Note: MIP
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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http://humcap.uchicago.edu/RePEc/hka/wpaper/Buetik ... nequal-reduction.pdf First version, March 2, 2018 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Disease Control and Inequality Reduction: Evidence from a Tuberculosis Testing and Vaccination Campaign (2020)
Working Paper: Disease Control and Inequality Reduction: Evidence from a Tuberculosis Testing and Vaccination Campaign (2018)
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