1PhD Scholar, Amity School of Economics, Amity University, Noida
2Professor, Community Medicine, Army College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
3Ex-Professor, Amity School of Economics, Amity University, Noida
*Corresponding author: Rajul Kumar Gupta, Professor, Community Medicine, Army College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Email: rajulkgupta@yahoo.co.in, Tele: 8527389090
Online published on 7 February, 2018.
Concept of human capital is akin to physical capital. Human capital investments like nutrition, health, and education yield dividend resulting in higher income. This occurs through increased productivity or by altered pattern of activities. Correlation between better nutrition, higher productivity and earnings is well known. Malnutrition affects human capital, results in loss of labor productivity and delays national development. Economic cost of malnutrition is estimated at 2–3% of GDP. Reducing malnutrition is essential to accelerate economic growth. Copenhagen Consensus, emphasizes good nutrition as most cost effective means of improving human well being. Various countries have formulated multiple policies to stall malnutrition. The paper discusses impact of malnutrition on human capital and economic development; and, how robust policies can bridge this inequality.
GDP, Developing countries, Economic impact, Food safety, Human capital, Malnutrition, Malnutrition Policies
