title: [Relations between health and development].
abstract: The relationship between the health of a population and the state of development of a society is complex and varies over time. Throughout history, improved health has been one of the main benefits of development. This benefit results partly from an increase in income and partly from scientific progress in the fight against disease and disability. This second factor is increasingly important compared to simple economic growth. Reciprocally, health could be expected to have a favorable effect on development, although this effect is more difficult to detect. Nevertheless, health can be considered part of a society's capital stock, as long as the essential differences between this type of capital and physical capital are recognized. These differences, in turn, provide an insight into the health services market and, in particular, into the tendency to spend more and more resources on health. It is necessary to respect the intrinsic value of human capital, rather than focusing strictly on the economic productivity that may be derived from it, in order to prevent discrimination against children, the elderly, the poor, or the disabled.
authors: Banco Mundial, Departamento Técnico para América Latina y el Caribe, Washington DC.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Musgrove
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000191:economics; D011634:Public Health; D026712:Value of Life
vernacular_title: Relaciones entre la salud y el desarrollo.