Velimir Šonje i Kristijan Kotarski: Korona ekonomika: pet jahača apokalipse

Relatively fast due to the large number infected and killed in a pandemic COVID-19, the World Health Organization, pointed out that this is an extraordinary event situation for public health of international importance, which certainly has an impact on society and social policy. Numerous countries around the world are implementing diverse measures to stop the spread of the virus. This inevitably affects a number of constraints in much of society and has very adverse economic consequences. The situation is so much more complex and demanding that in fact and a year after the outbreak of the pandemic yet not all the determinants of hers are always known and how to determine and implement measures to save human lives, but also to preserve the economy as much as possible. ON the complexity of this relationship is extremely interesting the book was prepared by Velimir Šonje and Kristijan Kotarski and published in 2020 by Arhivanalitika from Zagreb. On the whole, the authors very argumentatively and clearly state the economic and health costs of lockdown that may also be measurable and the loss of human lives.

Taxation of unhealthy food consumption and the intensive versus extensive margin of obesity

If an individual’s health costs are U-shaped in weight with a minimum at some healthy level and if the individual has both self-control problems and rational motives for over- or underweight, the optimal paternalistic tax on calorie intake mitigates the individual’s weight problem (intensive margin), but does not induce the individual to choose healthy weight (extensive margin). Implementing healthy weight by a calorie tax is not only inferior to paternalistic taxation, but may even be worse than not taxing the individual at all. With heterogeneous individuals, the optimal uniform paternalistic tax may have the negative side effect of reducing calorie intake of the under- and normal weights. We confirm these theoretical insights by an empirical calibration to US adults.

Garlic as a Potential Nominee in Functional Food Industry

Functional and nutraceuticals products provide a bigger prospect to one’s health by permitting health costs and supporting economic growth in lower and middle developed countries. Because of this reason, mostly diversion of people is going towards functional food and these Phyto-based foods are turning out to be popular universal in the red to the number of statements from researchers for their therapeutic applications. Garlic is one of the ancient vegetables that is used worldwide in different aspects which includes seasoning, culinary purposes, flavoring, and medical purposes. The consumption of garlic word wide increases due to its convenience, tackiness, health benefits, and low side effects. Garlic has been utilized for thousands of years because of its rich active components, phytochemicals, and other Sulfur containing components. It has so much rich history to contribute to the food industry. It has been used as a food stabilizer to prevent the development of pathogens to the prevention of many diseases. The claimed vigor reimbursements of garlic are abundant, including, anticarcinogenic, antibiotic, anti-hypertensive, and cholesterol-lowering properties, the risk of cardiovascular disease lowering the effects of hypolipidemic, antithrombotic, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antimutagenic, and prebiotic activities. The present attempt of the chapter is to explore garlic history along with its active component’s involvement in the prevention of diseases and threats.

Socio-economic and health costs of porcine/human cysticercosis, neurocysticercosis and epilepsy to small-scale pig producers in Tanzania

Background Porcine cysticercosis, human cysticercosis, neurocysticercosis, and epilepsy pose a serious public health risk and lead to economic losses to the small-scale pig farmers in Tanzania’s rural areas. It also resulted in lowering the pig’s prices, high treatment expenses, lower labour productivity, and social discrimination. In Tanzania, small-scale pig producers are unaware of the methods that are used to manage and prevent the diseases associated with Taenia solium. Main body The main goal of the reviewed article was to investigate the socio-economic and health costs of porcine/human cysticercosis, neurocysticercosis, and epilepsy on small-scale pig producers in Tanzania. Several search engines yielded 80 peer-reviewed publications, 44 of which were considered to be relevant to the study. Taenia solium cysticercosis has been reported to cause huge financial losses in the management of pigs posing a burden in terms of vaccination and treatment. Conclusion The information on porcine/human cysticercosis, neurocysticercosis, and epilepsy is still insufficient in Tanzania. Poor habits, negative perceptions, and attitudes are the result of this misinformation. This review suggests that health education should be emphasized as one of the intervention methods for eliminating all forms of cysticercosis and epilepsy in Tanzania to promote and increase awareness about all forms of cysticercosis and epilepsy in rural areas.

Short- and medium-term cost effects of non-indicated thyroid diagnostics: empirical evidence from German claims data

This paper contributes to the discussion of whether non-indicated ultrasound examinations of the thyroid gland contribute to overtreatment and excess health care expenditures. Using two sources of claims data from Germany, we analyzed data from patients who underwent a TSH blood test which is the initial diagnostic measure to check for possible presence of thyroid dysfunction. In a matching analysis, we compared health costs of two groups of patients. One consisted of patients who underwent an early thyroid ultrasound that according to medical guidelines—at this point—was probably not indicated. The other group consisted of patients, who underwent no ultrasound examination at all or later in the course of the disease, making probable a correct indication. Both groups were made comparable by the means of a matching procedure. Average thyroid-specific health costs were substantially higher for the first group in the quarter in which the ultrasound examination took place. Some deviation in these specific costs persisted over a substantial period of time, with drug expenditures exhibiting the biggest difference. If, however, total health costs were considered, difference in costs was only found in the initial quarter. We conclude that non-indicated ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland may have some moderate effects on thyroid-specific costs. Yet the data do not suggest that long-lasting overtreatment and excess health expenditures are initiated by non-indicated ultrasound in Germany.

Large US household balance sheets pose macro risks

Significance An examination of the factors behind the expansion indicates that outsized balance sheets will persist and will pose a number of macroeconomic risks. Impacts Slower workforce growth will pressure GDP growth, trade growth and long-term interest rates, unless productivity gains can offset this. A record number of US business deaths and births in 2020 will affect productivity and have unpredictable impacts on the economy. Lower growth makes it harder to stabilise debt-to-GDP ratios, just as pension and health costs rise as populations age in major economies.

The ageing prisoner population: demographic shifts in Australia and implications for the economic and social costs of health care

Purpose The Australian prisoner population has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of older inmates over the past decade, consistent with the greying of the prisoner population that is being observed worldwide. Reviews suggest the need for further evidence and practice outside of the USA. This paper aims to review and discuss the cost and social implications of the rising health-care needs of this population in Australia. Design/methodology/approach A review of international research and policies is presented, as well as the results of basic economic modelling relating to the expected rise in health-care costs of the ageing prisoner population in Australia. Findings Taking into consideration the continued rise in incarceration rates, the calculations show that the health costs of prisoners could increase by anywhere between 17% and 90% depending on whether the increase of older prisoners continues as it has in the past decade. These trends are likely to continue over the next decade and will result in higher health costs of prisons under a number of different imprisonment scenarios. Policy responses in Australia have been slow so far, with most initiatives being undertaken in the USA with promising results. Practical implications The authors suggest that in the absence of a coordinated policy response, covering a range of interventions, costs will continue to increase, particularly as this population continues to age more rapidly than the general population due to an accumulation of risk factors. Well-conceived interventions would be a worthwhile investment from both financial and social perspectives. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first commentary to acknowledge this rising public health issue and to both review and model its implications for the future.