The Escape from Hunger and Premature Death, 1700–2100
Europe, America, and the Third World

In this study, first published in 2004, Nobel laureate Robert Fogel examines health, nutrition and technology over the last three centuries.

Robert William Fogel (Author)

9780521004886, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 May 2004

216 pages, 19 b/w illus. 15 tables
22.8 x 15.4 x 1.5 cm, 0.294 kg

'… essential and exciting book …' History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

Nobel laureate Robert Fogel's compelling study, first published in 2004, examines health, nutrition and technology over the last three centuries and beyond. Throughout most of human history, chronic malnutrition has been the norm. During the past three centuries, however, a synergy between improvements in productive technology and in human physiology has enabled humans to more than double their average longevity and to increase their average body size by over 50 per cent. Larger, healthier humans have contributed to the acceleration of economic growth and technological change, resulting in reduced economic inequality, declining hours of work and a corresponding increase in leisure time. Increased longevity has also brought increased demand for health care. Professor Fogel argues that health care should be viewed as the growth industry of the twenty-first century and systems of financing it should be reformed. His book will be essential reading for all those interested in economics, demography, history and health care policy.

List of figures
List of tables
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. The persistence of misery in Europe before 1900
2. Why the twentieth century was remarkable
3. Tragedies and miracles in the Third World
4. Prospects for the twenty-first century
5. Problems of equity in health care
Postscript: how long can we live?
Appendix
Glossary of technical terms
Biographical notes
References.

Subject Areas: History of medicine [MBX], Dietetics & nutrition [MBNH3], Population & demography [JHBD], Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], General & world history [HBG], Development studies [GTF]