Healthy people, prosperous lives: The first interim report of the IPPR Commission on Health and Prosperity
Article
The UK is getting poorer and sicker, at the same time as the country is facing a challenging economic outlook. After rapid progress on life expectancy in the 20th century, the UK has rising rates of death and impairment – including higher prevalence of long-term conditions and greater rates of multimorbidity.
Good health has its own value – but this paper tests its relationship with prosperity. Good health is vital to an enjoyable and meaningful life, free from avoidable pain, anxiety and, in the worst cases, premature death. But it is also a crucial determinant of our economic prospects, both at an individual and a national level.
This has been poorly accounted for by policymakers. In that context, this paper sets out to quantify whether better health could provide an answer to some of our most deep-rooted economic challenges and what policies could help ‘price in’ its value across all decisionmaking.
Related items
Not as cheap as you think: Housing in the North East
While the North East ranks as the top region for affordability in England, safe, secure homes are out of reach for many.Avoiding austerity 2.0: Why is the government considering tax rises at the budget?
Whether we look at the courts, hospitals, prisons or GP services, the nation’s public services are in a dire state.Transforming asylum accommodation
Asylum accommodation costs have soared in recent years, with billions of pounds being spent on housing people in inadequate conditions, which is both a waste of public funds and a failure to meet policy objectives.