Energy and Literacy: An Index of Health Development

Afifi, A.A. & Sagan, L.A. (1978). Energy and Literacy: An Index of Health Development. IIASA Professional Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: PP-78-007

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Abstract

This report is one in a series by the authors describing their work on the relationship between health and energy. Using cross-sectional as well as longitudinal data, the series examines the role of of economic development in improving health.

In previous reports (PP-78-6, RM-78-41, and RM-78-42), percent literacy and per-capita commercial energy consumption were found to have the strongest association with longevity and infant mortality among a large number of explanatory variables. In this report we derive on a statistical basis a Health Development Index which is linear in literacy and logistic in energy consumption. A country moving from the lowest to the highest points on the INDEX is expected to increase the longevity of its population by 36 years and reduce infant mortality by 150 deaths per 1000 live births. In addition, we found evidence of a "time effect" operating since the turn of the century, independently of economic development. This effect accounts for an increase in longevity of 18 years and a decrease in infant mortality of 100 deaths since 1900.

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