The Great Escape: A Review Essay on Fogel's 'the Escape from Hunger and Premature Death, 1700-2100'

19 Pages Posted: 8 Jun 2005 Last revised: 13 Feb 2023

See all articles by Angus Deaton

Angus Deaton

Princeton University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: May 2005

Abstract

In this essay, I review Robert Fogel's The Escape from Hunger and Premature Death, 1700-2100 which is concerned with the past, present, and future of human health. Fogel's work places great emphasis on nutrition, not only for the history of health, but for explaining aspects of current health, not only in comparing poor and rich countries, but in thinking about rich countries now and in the future. I discuss Fogel's analysis alongside alternative interpretations that place greater emphasis on the historical role of public health, and on the current and future role of improvements in medical technology.

Suggested Citation

Deaton, Angus S., The Great Escape: A Review Essay on Fogel's 'the Escape from Hunger and Premature Death, 1700-2100' (May 2005). NBER Working Paper No. w11308, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=714079

Angus S. Deaton (Contact Author)

Princeton University ( email )

Woodrow Wilson School
Princeton, NJ 08544
United States
609-258-5967 (Phone)
609-258-5974 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.wws.princeton.edu/~deaton

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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