WORKFORCE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: EXPLORING THE DYNAMICS FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

This study contributes to understanding the role of workforce health on output growth and the convergence process in 38 OECD members and 58 low-income countries over a 65-year period. Empirical findings based on system GMM estimations show that (i) year gains in the longevity of the younger workforce at ages 15 to 20 have significant effects on economic growth, (ii) after age 20, the rate of convergence slightly decreases with rising age, (iii) increases in adult mortality adversely affect output growth through the loss of human capital productive ages and the decreases in the incentives to invest in physical capital, and (iv) the growth-enhancing effects of the savings rate considerably rises with increasing age in OECD countries but not in low-income countries. The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the critical role that policy can play in promoting workforce health, ultimately productivity, and long-run economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]