Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research

Determining the causality between health measures and both income and labor productivity remains an ongoing challenge for economists. This review paper aims to answer the question: Does improved population health lead to higher rates of agricultural growth? In attempting to answer this question, we...

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Autores principales: McNamara, Paul E., Ulimwengu, John M., Leonard, Kenneth L.
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2010
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/154277
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author McNamara, Paul E.
Ulimwengu, John M.
Leonard, Kenneth L.
author_browse Leonard, Kenneth L.
McNamara, Paul E.
Ulimwengu, John M.
author_facet McNamara, Paul E.
Ulimwengu, John M.
Leonard, Kenneth L.
author_sort McNamara, Paul E.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Determining the causality between health measures and both income and labor productivity remains an ongoing challenge for economists. This review paper aims to answer the question: Does improved population health lead to higher rates of agricultural growth? In attempting to answer this question, we survey the empirical literature at micro and macro levels concerning the link between health investments and agricultural productivity. The evidence from some micro-level studies suggests that inexpensive health interventions can have a very large impact on labor productivity. The macro-level evidence at the country and global level, however, is mixed at best and in some cases suggests that health care interventions have no impact on income, much less on agricultural productivity. At both micro and macro levels, the literature does not provide a clear-cut answer to the question under investigation. Overall, the review reveals a great deal of heterogeneity in terms of estimation methods, definition and measurement of health variables, choice of economic outcomes, single-equation versus multiple-equation approach, and static versus dynamic approach. The actual magnitude of estimated elasticities is difficult to assess in part due to estimation bias caused by the endogeneity of health outcomes. We also found significant gaps in the literature; for example, very little attention is given to demand for health inputs by rural populations and farmers.
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spelling CGSpace1542772025-11-06T05:45:18Z Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research McNamara, Paul E. Ulimwengu, John M. Leonard, Kenneth L. agriculture growth investment nutrition productivity health time use patterns Determining the causality between health measures and both income and labor productivity remains an ongoing challenge for economists. This review paper aims to answer the question: Does improved population health lead to higher rates of agricultural growth? In attempting to answer this question, we survey the empirical literature at micro and macro levels concerning the link between health investments and agricultural productivity. The evidence from some micro-level studies suggests that inexpensive health interventions can have a very large impact on labor productivity. The macro-level evidence at the country and global level, however, is mixed at best and in some cases suggests that health care interventions have no impact on income, much less on agricultural productivity. At both micro and macro levels, the literature does not provide a clear-cut answer to the question under investigation. Overall, the review reveals a great deal of heterogeneity in terms of estimation methods, definition and measurement of health variables, choice of economic outcomes, single-equation versus multiple-equation approach, and static versus dynamic approach. The actual magnitude of estimated elasticities is difficult to assess in part due to estimation bias caused by the endogeneity of health outcomes. We also found significant gaps in the literature; for example, very little attention is given to demand for health inputs by rural populations and farmers. 2010 2024-10-01T14:00:35Z 2024-10-01T14:00:35Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/154277 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute McNamara, Paul E.; Ulimwengu, John M.; Leonard, Kenneth L. 2010. Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1012. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/154277
spellingShingle agriculture
growth
investment
nutrition
productivity
health
time use patterns
McNamara, Paul E.
Ulimwengu, John M.
Leonard, Kenneth L.
Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research
title Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research
title_full Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research
title_fullStr Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research
title_full_unstemmed Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research
title_short Do health investments improve agricultural productivity? Lessons from agricultural household and health research
title_sort do health investments improve agricultural productivity lessons from agricultural household and health research
topic agriculture
growth
investment
nutrition
productivity
health
time use patterns
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/154277
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