Causes of the Health Transition: Public Health & Sanitation

Question 1

Public Health expenditure & urban mortality in the US from 1910-1940

Answer 1

Health departments in the US did not reduce mortality at a statistically significant level - cities effectively reduced mortality without a health department.
Budget allocation throughout a health department is more significant in reducing mortality than increasing the number of departments - heterogeneity in departments

Question 2

Sanitary Infrastructure and German Mortality decline: 1877-1913

Answer 2

The introduction of safe drinking water contributed to the improvement of the disease environment, yet had limited effects in the absence of sewerage networks
21% fall in CDR due to sewerage and water, and explain the 25% fall in IMR.
Mechanisms: exposure of disease via water and via air

Question 3

Urbanization and Mortality in Britain 1800-1850

Answer 3

Two schools of thought regarding life expectancy: one argues it was the worst period, while other scholars disagree
One side argues political factors -> decreases in life expectancy.
Other side mortality = F(poverty, redistribution, urbanization)
High and persistent IMR until 1860
Authors downplay the role of public policy in reducing mortality, but a shaky conclusion due to lack of methodology