The costs of malaria

The Global Health Initiative of the World Economic Forum reports that malaria has a devastating impact on businesses and economic growth (full report here as pdf).The study was conducted by David Bloom and colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health. It summarizes the existing literature on the economic effects of malaria, which is of variable quality. What is new is the survey of 8,000 business leaders in 100 countries.Some of the findings are:

• 22 per cent of business leaders who responded the survey report that malaria currently affects their business. 10 per cent report serious impacts.
• businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa are most likely to perceive effects, with 39 per cent reporting serious current impacts and 72 per cent reporting at least some impact. This is followed by South and South East Asia (where 30 per cent of respondents report impacts) and then by the Caribbean and East Asia.
• there is much that firms can do to reduce the burden of malaria on their employees and their families
Hat tip: Simon Robinson at the Time BlogSee also AllAfrica.com