Does inequality in health impede growth?

This paper investigates the effects of inequality in health on economic growth in low and middle income countries. It uses data from 62 low and middle income countries over the period 1985 to 2007, which show a substantial and relatively robust negative effect of health inequality on income levels and income growth controlling for life expectancy, country and time fixed-effects and a large number of other effects that have been shown to matter for growth. The paper concludes that increasing access to health care for the poor can make a substantial contribution to economic growth not only through its effect on life expectancy but also through its effect on reduced health inequality