Life expectancy and economic growth: The role of the demographic transition

Matteo Cervellati and Uwe Sunde

Munich Reprints in Economics from University of Munich, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper investigates the hypothesis that the causal effect of life expectancy on income per capita growth is non-monotonic. This hypothesis follows from the recent literature on unified growth, in which the demographic transition represents an important turning point for population dynamics and hence plays a central role for the transition from stagnation to growth. Results from different empirical specifications and identification strategies document that the effect is non-monotonic, negative (but often insignificant) before the onset of the demographic transition, but strongly positive after its onset. The results provide a new interpretation of the contradictory existing evidence and have relevant policy implications.

Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (224)

Published in Journal of Economic Growth 2 16(2011): pp. 99-133

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Related works:
Journal Article: Life expectancy and economic growth: the role of the demographic transition (2011)
Working Paper: Life Expectancy and Economic Growth: The Role of the Demographic Transition (2009)
Working Paper: Life Expectancy and Economic Growth: The Role of the Demographic Transition (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lmu:muenar:20078

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