One comment in particular merits a response: that Botswana, one of the best-governed countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of the most prosperous (its GDP per capita is about $10,000, and thus close to the Republic of South Africa's $12,200), has one of the highest AIDS rates in Africa (24 percent), and therefore I am wrong to suggest that bad government and poverty are the roots of Africa's disproportionate incidence of HIV-AIDS. I had pointed out, however, that the factors that influence a country's AIDS rate are multiple. One of them is migrant labor, which facilitates prostitution and casual sex. Botswana sends many of its workers to South Africa, and also sits astride major north-south traffic arteries. In addition, its relative prosperity has led to rapid urbanization, and cities provide greater opportunities for casual sex than rural areas. Another factor that has undoubtedly influenced the AIDS rate in Botswana is that the AIDS epidemic started in southern Africa, which is probably why the highest African AIDS rates are in the countries of southern Africa, which include Botswana. The epidemic had already spread widely before preventive measures, including education in the danger of the disease, were taken. But that of course cannot explain why Botswana's AIDS rate is higher even than South Africa's.
A further point about Botswana is that although its average income is high, because of its diamond mines and tourist attractions, the income is very unevenly allocated. Most of the population is very poor (30 percent are below the poverty level) and 20 percent are illiterate. However, a wealthy country with many poor can pay for public health, and in fact Botswana has an advanced program for combating AIDS by education, free condoms, etc., and has had it for a number of years, so it is a puzzle why the overall incidence of HIV-AIDS remains so high.
I want to emphasize two other factors that did not receive adequate attention in my original post. One is that short life expectancies reduce the cost of risky behavior: a 25 percent risk of dying from AIDS is very high, but the expected cost of death that is generated by that risk is lower the higher the probability of dying young from some other disease, a probability much higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in the United States. Another factor is the prevalence of other sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, which increase susceptibility to infection by the AIDS virus. Both of these points are discussed in an early article by Tomas J. Philipson and me on AIDS in Africa--“The Microeconomics of the AIDS Epidemic in Africa,” 21 Population and Development Review 835 (1995)--and in a more recent article by Emily Oster, "Sexually Transmitted Infections, Sexual Behavior and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic," 120 Quarterly Journal of Economics 467 (2005). We note in our article the curious positive correlation in Africa of AIDS with education, and suggest that educated Africans are likely to be urban and therefore have more opportunities for casual sex. On the economics of AIDS generally, see also Philipson's and my book Private Choices and Public Health: The AIDS Epidemic in an Economic Perspective (1993).
« Progress in Fighting AIDS in Africa?--Posner | Main | Libertarian Paternalism--Posner's Comment »
01/14/2007
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c031153ef0133efd19b7a970b
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference AIDS in Africa--Posner's Response to Comments:
» Cholesterol from Cholesterol
Many web sites you find have all you are looking for. [Read More]
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Search
Become a Fan
Home Pages
May 2013
Recent Posts
- Security Surveillance Cameras—Posner
- The Internet, Surveillance Cameras, and Misuse of Big Data-Becker
- The Rise in College Tuition and Student Loans-Becker
- College Costs and Quality—Posner
- Breakthough in the War on Drugs?—Posner
- Alternatives to the War on Drugs-Becker
- Reforming Immigration Policy-Becker
- Reforming Immigration Policy—Posner
- Business Ethics—Posner
- Business, Competition, and Corruption-Becker
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/12/2009 at 06:10 AM
Very cute :-))))
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/12/2009 at 10:51 AM
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/12/2009 at 02:54 PM
Great. Now i can say thank you!
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/12/2009 at 09:54 PM
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/13/2009 at 01:38 AM
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/13/2009 at 09:46 AM
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/13/2009 at 11:40 PM
Pervert! Let's get out of here. There are so many perverts here.So what? You are such a bad person Who's gonna like you? Tiffany Jewelry Don't mind him. Don't mind him. He's just playing. Forget him. He saw me steal the diamond. Tiffany Jewelry You're dreaming! In your dreams. Wake up and smell the coffee.Where'd you get it!Good idea.Think it over.You can never tell about this sort of thing.Take a closer l Wake up and smell the coffee.Where'd you get it!Good idea.Think it over.You can never tell about this sort of thing.Take a closer look.When did I say that!You have to be on time. Don't be late. ook.When did I say that!You have to be on time. Don't be late.
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/14/2009 at 01:09 AM
It is the coolest site, keep so!
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/14/2009 at 05:39 AM
Just love tiffany and ugg boots,thanks!!
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/19/2009 at 03:44 AM
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/20/2009 at 07:51 AM
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/20/2009 at 04:25 PM
comment2,
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/21/2009 at 11:13 AM
Perfect site, i like it!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/07/2009 at 01:08 AM
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 04:05 PM
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 04:06 PM
Great site. Keep doing.
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 05:51 PM
Great site. Keep doing.
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 05:53 PM
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 07:39 PM
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 07:41 PM
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 09:27 PM
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 09:27 PM
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/08/2009 at 11:12 PM
I want to say - thank you for this!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/09/2009 at 12:57 AM
I want to say - thank you for this!
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/09/2009 at 12:58 AM