A large multidisciplinary literature discusses the relationship between economic growth and population health. The idea that economic growth is good for societies has inspired extensive academic debate, but conclusions have been mixed. To help shed light on the subject, this paper focuses on opportunities for consensus in this large literature. Much scholarship finds that the health-growth relationship varies according to (1) which aspect of “health” is under consideration, (2) shape (e.g., positive linear or logarithmic), (3) issues of timing (e.g., growth over the short or long term), (4) a focus on health inequalities as opposed to population averages, and (5) multivariable relationships with additional factors. After reflecting upon these findings, I propose that economic growth promotes health in some respects, for some countries, and in conjunction with other life-supporting priorities, but does not by itself improve population health generally speaking. I then argue there is already wide, interdisciplinary consensus to support this stance. Moreover, policies focusing exclusively on economic growth threaten harm to both population health and growth, which is to say that political dynamics are also implicated. Yet multivariable approaches can help clarify the bigger picture of how growth relates to health. For moving this literature forward, the best opportunities may involve the simultaneous analysis of multiple factors. The recognition of consensus around these issues would be welcome, and timely.

大量多学科文献讨论了经济增长与人口健康之间的关系。经济增长对社会有利的观点引发了广泛的学术辩论，但结论却喜忧参半。为了帮助阐明这个主题，本文重点关注在这一大型文献中达成共识的机会。许多学术研究发现，健康与成长的关系因以下因素而异：(1) 考虑“健康”的哪个方面，(2) 形状（例如，正线性或对数），(3) 时间问题（例如，增长超过短期或长期），（4）关注健康不平等而不是人口平均水平，以及（5）与其他因素的多变量关系。在反思这些发现之后，我建议经济增长在某些方面促进健康，对于一些国家，并与其他维持生命的优先事项相结合，但一般而言，其本身并不能改善人口健康。然后我认为已经存在广泛的跨学科共识来支持这一立场。此外，完全专注于经济增长的政策威胁到人口健康和增长，这意味着政治动态也受到牵连。然而，多变量方法可以帮助阐明增长与健康之间的关系。为了推动该文献向前发展，最好的机会可能涉及同时分析多种因素。欢迎及时就这些问题达成共识。支持这一立场的跨学科共识。此外，完全专注于经济增长的政策威胁到人口健康和增长，这意味着政治动态也受到牵连。然而，多变量方法可以帮助阐明增长与健康之间的关系。为了推动该文献向前发展，最好的机会可能涉及同时分析多种因素。欢迎及时就这些问题达成共识。支持这一立场的跨学科共识。此外，完全专注于经济增长的政策威胁到人口健康和增长，这意味着政治动态也受到牵连。然而，多变量方法可以帮助阐明增长与健康之间的关系。为了推动该文献向前发展，最好的机会可能涉及同时分析多种因素。欢迎及时就这些问题达成共识。最好的机会可能涉及同时分析多种因素。欢迎及时就这些问题达成共识。最好的机会可能涉及同时分析多种因素。欢迎及时就这些问题达成共识。