On the Role of Health in the Economic and Demographic Dynamics of Brazil, 1980–1995†

We conduct an integral study of the effects of health on the economic and demographic dynamics of Brazil. Using probability of survival by age and gender groups as health indicator, we find a complex mosaic for the interaction of health with each of the principal aspects of the transition – namely income, net fertility, education, and female economic participation. The strongest effects of health on income occur through increased education, followed by increased productivity and finally by increased female participation. We also find that health slows the decrease of net fertility, except for high income groups, engendering a developmental vicious circle. JEL Classificatio