Democracy cuts health risks, increases longevity

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER

NEWDELHI: Democracy isn’t just good for the soul, but is good for the body too, according to a study spanning 170 countries that found a strong correlation between health and the most progressive form of government.

People living in democracies live longer than those who don’t, said the study, published in The Lancet on Thursday. The also have a lesser chance of dying from heart disease, strokes, even road accidents. “The study According to a study spanning 170 countries, people living in democracies live longer than those who don’t

The also have a lesser chance of dying from heart diseases, strokes and road accidents Life expectancy improved faster in countries that

suggests that elections and the health of the people are increasingly inseparable. Without pressure or validation from voters or foreign-aid agencies, dictators have less transitioned to democracy between 1970 and 2015 In such countries, life expectancy on average increased by 3% after 10 years

As levels of democracy increased, governments spent more on health incentive to finance the more expensive prevention and treatment of heart diseases, cancers, and other chronic illnesses,” said study lead Thomas Bollyky, director of the global health programme at the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington DC.

The study also addressed an important but-then argument by contrasting the health benefits of democracy with those of wealth (because, on average, democracies tend to have higher national incomes than dictatorships). An analysis of political, economic, and population health information collected over 46 years found that democracy played a bigger role in improving public health than a country’s economic output.