Health in Historical Political Economy

Abstract This chapter studies the intersection of health and political economy in history, with a focus on the United States during the epidemiological transition. Few of the major factors that drove mortality reduction and health improvements would have been possible without the state. And where there is the state, there are questions of political economy. The chapter asks two related questions: What was the political economy behind the transition and what were the political economic effects of the transition? It is divided into three substantive sections. The first section focuses on the public health measures and investments in the era of the epidemiological transition. The second section considers the political economy of epidemics and pandemics and the political economy left in their wake. The third section traces the development of American health care as both a profession and an industry.