
Complements to GDP: Measuring Freedom, Health and Education through time
The Economic History Podcast
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Historical Trends in Life Expectancy and Per Capita Income
Exploring the historical trends of life expectancy and per capita income, the chapter challenges the notion that economic growth and public health provision are the sole drivers of increased life expectancy. It discusses examples of significant life expectancy gains independent of economic progress, linking advances in medical knowledge to the sustained improvement in life expectancy from 1920 to 1970. The speaker emphasizes the complex interplay between health, income, and life expectancy, shedding light on the evolving factors that influence well-being beyond traditional economic indicators.
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