Professor David Bloom, Clarence James Gamble Professor of Economics and Demography, Department of Population and International Health, Harvard School of Public Health, made an insightful presentation on ‘Health, Demographic Change and Its Impact on the Economy’ at a Public Lecture organised by ICRIER. 

Professor Bloom’s lecture elucidated in a graphic way the effects of public health and demographic changes on economic growth. He explained how better public health could increase the productivity, incentive for acquisition of education and investment. He further emphasised that the improved health would also lead to a demographic transition and the so-called demographic dividend. One of the surprising implications of his analysis is that about 3/4th of the difference between China’s and India’s growth rate during the last 25 years is due to the fact that China had encashed its demographic dividend. In the next 25 years, he suggested, it would be India’s turn to have the benefit of this dividend. 

The Lecture was attended by a number of demographers and eminent persons from academia, policy makers, media and various research institutes. It was chaired by Dr. Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, IFPRI and Board Member, ICRIER.