Health is widely recognized as a critical pillar of human capital and a driving force for sustainable economic growth. This study examines the evolution, structure, and performance of Pakistan’s health sector and its contribution to economic development. Using annual time series data from 1972 to 2005, the research employs cointegration techniques to explore both short-run and long-run relationships between health-related variables, health resources, and economic growth. The analysis considers multiple dimensions of health infrastructure, including hospitals, dispensaries, basic health units, specialized care centers, and the availability of health professionals. Findings indicate that improved health resources when equitably distributed enhance labor productivity, educational attainment, and savings behavior, thereby fostering higher economic output. The study underscores the need for integrated health and economic strategies, emphasizing targeted investments in primary care, equitable access, and policy continuity to leverage health as a catalyst for economic prosperity in Pakistan.

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HEALTH HUMAN CAPITAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN PAKISTAN AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF HEALTH SECTOR DYNAMICS

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/ger.2018(III-II).12      10.31703/ger.2018(III-II).12      Published : Fall 2018
Authored by : MuhammadKhizarHayat , Toseef Azid

12 Pages : 114-127

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/ger.2018(III-II).12      10.31703/ger.2018(III-II).12      Published : Dec 2018

Health, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation of Health Sector Dynamics

    Health is widely recognized as a critical pillar of human capital and a driving force for sustainable economic growth. This study examines the evolution, structure, and performance of Pakistan’s health sector and its contribution to economic development. Using annual time series data from 1972 to 2005, the research employs cointegration techniques to explore both short-run and long-run relationships between health-related variables, health resources, and economic growth. The analysis considers multiple dimensions of health infrastructure, including hospitals, dispensaries, basic health units, specialized care centers, and the availability of health professionals. Findings indicate that improved health resources when equitably distributed enhance labor productivity, educational attainment, and savings behavior, thereby fostering higher economic output. The study underscores the need for integrated health and economic strategies, emphasizing targeted investments in primary care, equitable access, and policy continuity to leverage health as a catalyst for economic prosperity in Pakistan.

    Health Sector, Human Capital, Economic Growth, Health Infrastructure, Pakistan, Cointegration Analysis, Public Health Policy, Labor Productivity, Health Resources, Urban–rural Disparities
    (1) Muhammad Khizar Hayat
    PhD Scholar, Department of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Toseef Azid
    Professor, Department of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
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Cite this article

    APA : Hayat, M. K., & Azid, T. (2018). Health, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation of Health Sector Dynamics. Global Economics Review, III(II), 114-127. https://doi.org/10.31703/ger.2018(III-II).12
    CHICAGO : Hayat, Muhammad Khizar, and Toseef Azid. 2018. "Health, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation of Health Sector Dynamics." Global Economics Review, III (II): 114-127 doi: 10.31703/ger.2018(III-II).12
    HARVARD : HAYAT, M. K. & AZID, T. 2018. Health, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation of Health Sector Dynamics. Global Economics Review, III, 114-127.
    MHRA : Hayat, Muhammad Khizar, and Toseef Azid. 2018. "Health, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation of Health Sector Dynamics." Global Economics Review, III: 114-127
    MLA : Hayat, Muhammad Khizar, and Toseef Azid. "Health, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation of Health Sector Dynamics." Global Economics Review, III.II (2018): 114-127 Print.
    OXFORD : Hayat, Muhammad Khizar and Azid, Toseef (2018), "Health, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation of Health Sector Dynamics", Global Economics Review, III (II), 114-127
    TURABIAN : Hayat, Muhammad Khizar, and Toseef Azid. "Health, Human Capital, and Economic Growth in Pakistan: An Empirical Investigation of Health Sector Dynamics." Global Economics Review III, no. II (2018): 114-127. https://doi.org/10.31703/ger.2018(III-II).12