title: Poor health kills small business: illness and microenterprises in South Africa.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. chao69@wharton.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Li-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pauly
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Szrek
authors.forename: Nuno Sousa
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bundred
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gow
mesh_terms: 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