Explaining Long-Term Trends in Health and Longevity

Reviews / Votes

'Initially met with skepticism, anthropometric history has, over the past decades, become established as an important tool in studies of long-term changes in health and well-being, largely due to the work of Robert Fogel. This comprehensive collection of essays, written over a period of 25 years, gives new students an excellent overview of his contribution to the field, which has inspired many of us. Each essay shows Fogel's eminent ability to develop a synthesis based on a diversity of data, sometimes rich, sometimes meager. The story of how first food, then environment, and now lifestyles determine the length of our lives is compelling, if not without challenge.' Tommy Bengtsson, Lund University 'This book shows why Robert Fogel has been, for 50 years, a leader among economic historians. Theoretical insights from economics are combined with close attention to the collection and interpretation of historical evidence; the results are expressed in a lucid exposition of complex arguments, which have led to major revisions in our understanding of the past.' Professor Sir Roderick Floud, Gresham College 'This book collects some of Robert Fogel's most important essays on the analysis of long-term trends in health and nutrition. It demonstrates how the detailed analysis of historical data can generate new insights into contemporary social problems. It offers a characteristically optimistic account of the causes and consequences of improvements in human health since the start of the eighteenth century and the challenges that now confront us.' Bernard Harris, University of Southampton 'For those already familiar with Fogel's work, this volume conveniently packages some of his essays in one volume and ends with an interview with Fogel.' Dora L. Costa, Journal of Economic Literature