Kapital fizjologiczny jako czynnik wzrostu gospodarczego i dobrobytu społecznego

Abstract

Robert Fogel’s economic history has given not only a new and interesting interpretation of the economic past but also the ground to face the challenges of globalization and demographic development. Idea of physiological capital as factor affecting economic growth follows from Fogel’s hypothesis about synergism between rapid technological changes and improvement in human physiology. His theory of technophysiological evolution is also a source of new view on the measurement of economic growth and social welfare. Fogel has convinced us that successful economic and social policy has to be based on a long-run perspective and that research of economic historians is very important for economists and politicians. From secular trends in physiological capital, one can infer implications for policy in health care and education.