Poor health kills small business: illness and microenterprises in South Africa.
Small businesses contribute almost 50 percent of total employment and 30 percent of gross domestic product in South Africa, but the impact of poor health and AIDS on these businesses is poorly documented. Using three waves of longitudinal data from predominantly African neighborhoods in peri-urban Durban, South Africa, this project investigates the connections between the health of the owner of a micro- and small enterprise (MSE) and the MSE's growth, survival, or exit. The results show that poor baseline health and declines in health over time are both significantly associated with subsequent business closure.
Chao
Li-Wei
LW
Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. chao69@wharton.upenn.edu
Pauly
Mark
M
Szrek
Helena
H
Pereira
Nuno Sousa
NS
Bundred
Frances
F
Cross
Catherine
C
Gow
Jeff
J
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce