EPAR RESEARCH BRIEF #385
Sun, 03/17/2019
Authors: 
C. Leigh Anderson
David Coomes
Elan Ebeling
Terry Fletcher
Nina Forbes
Namrata Kolla
Rebecca Walcott
Abstract: 

Much literature discusses the importance of investing in human capital—or “the sum of a population’s health, skills, knowledge, experience, and habits” (World Bank, 2018, p. 42)—to a country’s economic growth. For example, the World Bank reports a “chronic underinvestment” in health and education in Nigeria, noting that investing in human capital has the potential to significantly contribute to economic growth, poverty reduction, and societal well-being (World Bank, 2018). This research brief reports on the evidence linking investment in human capital—specifically, health and education—with changes in economic growth. It reviews the literature for five topic areas: Education, Infectious Diseases, Nutrition, Primary Health Care, and Child and Maternal Health. This review gives priority focus to the countries of Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania. For each topic area, we report the evidence in support of a pathway from investing in human capital to economic growth.

Type of Research: 
Research Brief
Research Topic Category: 
Household Well-Being & Equity
Health
Food Security & Nutrition
Education & Training

Downloadable Documents