The health impact of urban poor housing and environmental conditions

Abstract

If health were considered a product, medical care would simply be one input used in producing it. Unfortunately, the economics literature generally ignores this. Research just focuses on medical care, medical insurance, and the workings of its markets. But as Arrow (1963) himself admits, "particularly at low levels of income, other commodities such as nutrition, shelter, clothing, and sanitation may be much more significant" than medical care as causal factors in health.