head, but it does indicate that the connection works through public expenditure on health care, and poverty removal. The consequences for living standards and human well-being of factors other than increases in per capita GDP and consumption will therefore be analysed. Life expectancy and overall social conditions It is obvious that China’s rise in consumption reflected materially in increase in food – quality, housing, holidays, phones, cars, furniture, health care etc. is a decisive factor in – determining its living standards and creating the basis for prosperity. China’s rapidly growing numbers of smartphones, cars, internet users, foreign holidays trips etc. reflect this. However attempts are sometimes made to claim that China’s dramatic increases in measurable consumption are offset by other factors for example weaknesses in health care, – deterioration in the environment etc. Factual analysis shows the reality is the opposite. Data on the impact of social conditions, health, environment, education etc. show that China’s life expectancy is better than would be expected purely from its economic development. This, evidently, again does not indicate that there are not negative factors, nor is this being argued, but that these are clearly and considerably outweighed in China by positive trends. This fact can be tested objectively. As already noted, life expectancy provides the most sensitive indicator of overall living conditions. Earlier, to assess the pre-1978 period, a comparison was made of China with the second largest developing country India. – Comprehensive comparative data does not exist to allow a comparison for all countries back to 1949, however for the post- 1978 period it is possible to make a systematic comparison with most countries. To provide an overall framework Figure 3 confirms clearly the high degree globally to which life expectancy is primarily determined by the direct and indirect consequences of a country’s per capita GDP. It shows the correlation of per capita GDP and life expectancy in 2011 - the latest year at the time of wrirting for which comprehensive international data exists. Coverage is for all 117 countries for which annual records exist from 1980-2011 these states include – the overwhelming majority of the world’s population. It may be seen differences in per capita GDP account for 71% of differences in life expectancy.
head, but it does indicate that the connection works through public expenditure on health care, and poverty removal. The consequences for living standards and human well-being of factors other than increases in per capita GDP and consumption will therefore be analysed. Life expectancy and overall social conditions It is obvious that China’s rise in consumption – reflected materially in increase in food quality, housing, holidays, phones, cars, furniture, health care etc. – is a decisive factor in determining its living standards and creating the basis for prosperity. China’s rapidly growing numbers of smartphones, cars, internet users, foreign holidays trips etc. reflect this. However attempts are sometimes made to claim that China’s dramatic increases in measurable consumption are offset by other factors – for example weaknesses in health care, deterioration in the environment etc. Factual analysis shows the reality is the opposite. Data on the impact of social conditions, health, environment, education etc. show that China’s life expectancy is better than would be expected purely from its economic development. This, evidently, again does not indicate that there are not negative factors, nor is this being argued, but that these are clearly and considerably outweighed in China by positive trends. This fact can be tested objectively. As already noted, life expectancy provides the most sensitive indicator of overall living conditions. Earlier, to assess the pre-1978 period, a comparison was made of China with the second largest developing country – India. Comprehensive comparative data does not exist to allow a comparison for all countries back to 1949, however for the post- 1978 period it is possible to make a systematic comparison with most countries. To provide an overall framework Figure 3 confirms clearly the high degree globally to which life expectancy is primarily determined by the direct and indirect consequences of a country’s per capita GDP. It shows the correlation of per capita GDP and life expectancy in 2011 - the latest year at the time of wrirting for which comprehensive international data exists. Coverage is for all 117 countries for which annual records exist from 1980-2011 – these states include the overwhelming majority of the world’s population. It may be seen differences in per capita GDP account for 71% of differences in life expectancy.
20161212160604_12936.docx