Education and Health

The question of education and health in relation to economic growth can be confused, not by the issue of causality, where the evidence is relatively clear, but by means and ends. There is clear evidence that education and health both cause and are caused by economic growth. This is good news for policymakers, as promoting education is likely to have a positive impact on economic growth and so provide the resources for governments and households to further expand education (as well as incentives to do so if the growth creates well-paid jobs that require a good standard of education). Society can float upwards on a virtuous circle of education and rising incomes. However, the opposite is also true. Poor education and slow economic growth could become locked together in a vicious embrace.