Alaska becomes 3rd state to officially OK marijuana use. Here are 6 facts: http://t.co/jMOdhLzRoT pic.twitter.com/6GYTkUqs9K
— Pew Research Fact Tank (@FactTank) February 26, 2015
Elvis Presley’s greatest hit (was against polio)
26 Feb 2015 1 Comment
in economics of information, economics of media and culture, health economics Tags: anti-vaccination movement, Elvis Presley, polio, vaccinations
Killer green technologies alert – electric cars
25 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in environmental economics, global warming, health economics Tags: electric cars, killer green technologies
Chart: How childhood obesity has swept the world in less than a generation
25 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in health economics Tags: obesity
via Chart: How childhood obesity has swept the world in less than a generation – The Washington Post.
Let’s celebrate the 61st birthday of the polio vaccine
23 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in health economics Tags: polio, vaccines
On February 23, 1954, the polio vaccine, developed by Jonas Salk, commenced clinical testing… before the introduction of the vaccine in the mid-50’s, regular polio outbreaks occurred everywhere, even developed countries like the USA and northern Europe.
The virus is transmitted through fecal matter, so swimming pools, improper sanitation (like washing after using the bathroom), babies diapers and other sources moved the virus.
Almost all of the transmission was through casual contact, not improper sanitation (at least since the advent of a modern sanitation system in the USA starting in the late 1920’s).
About 95% of individuals infected are asymptomatic (pdf), so they appear healthy but are shedding viruses to infect other people.
Of the 5% who are symptomatic, about 10% of them eventually progress to the paralytic version of the disease. In other words, approximately 0.5% of those infected were paralyzed. One of the tropes of the anti-science/anti-vaccine world is that this is a small number. Except it isn’t. Out of 5 million children who might be infected every, approximately 25,000 children a year might progress to the paralytic version of the disease, and some of them would die.
Vaccinations – who gains, who loses
20 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in health economics Tags: anti-vaccination movement, externalities, tort liability, vaccines
The anti-vaccination movement is drawn equally from across the political spectrum
20 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in health economics, politics - Australia, politics - New Zealand, politics - USA, Public Choice Tags: anti-vaccination movement, antiscience left, Green Left, opinion polls
How Often People in Various Countries Shower – Atlantic Mobile
18 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in cricket, health economics Tags: The Great Escape
An ice-cold whisky dispenser, 1950s.
18 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
The most successful company in the world
17 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of regulation, financial economics, health economics Tags: tobacco regulation, wages of vice
The wages of vice. It’s Altria, the cigarette company.
HT: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-successful-company-in-the-world-2015-2?IR=T
The history of vaccinations
15 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in economic history, health economics Tags: anti-vaccination movement, Quacks, vaccines
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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