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HIV/AIDS is the dominant health issue in Africa, where in many countries the human and social costs are devastating. Any deterioration in economic performance is likely to compound these costs and render countries less able to cope with the epidemic. However, conventional economic theories of growth argue that the impact of such an epidemic on the growth rate and level of income may be positive or negative. The analyses reported in this paper assess the impact of the HIV epidemic upon economic growth performance in 41 African economies between 1960 and 1998. The results indicate that for African countries where the prevalence of HIV is relatively low the impact of the epidemic conforms to ‘normal’ economic expectations. However, when the prevalence of the epidemic is relatively high the macroeconomic impact of the epidemic is unclear. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on the impact of HIV and AIDS on social and economic development in Africa. Increase in the annual average medical cost for employees according to a study in Zambia; Issue concerning the pricing of anti-retroviral therapy for patients with HIV/AIDS; Significance of community involvement in reducing the spread of the infection.

Focuses on how economic research helps to estimate the effects of HIV/AIDS on the African economy and the cost-effectiveness of programs for prevention and treatment of the disease. Prediction that HIV/AIDS reduces labor supply and productivity, reduces exports and increases imports; Reduction of the average national economic growth rates across Africa; Finding that prevention and treatment programs and economic measures would limit the economic effects of HIV/AIDS.