The economic consequences of ill-health in Estonia 2004–2006

The main contribution of the present report is to go beyond a description of the health status per se and to provide a direct quantitative assessment of the economic consequences of ill-health in the specific case of Estonia. In particular, we begin to answer two important questions:

1. What effect has adult ill-health, in particular chronic disease, had on the Estonian economy and the economic outcomes of the people living in the country?
2. If the substantial burden of adult ill-health in Estonia were reduced, what economic benefits could result?

The second part of this report assesses the macroeconomic benefits that would accrue by reducing adult mortality rates in Estonia according to plausible scenarios.