ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND HEALTH: HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY AND CONTEMPORARY IMPLICATIONS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63026/acertte.v6i2.306

Keywords:

Health Economics. Neoliberalism. SUS. Social Determinants. Public Policies.

Abstract

The relationship between economics and health constitutes an essential interdisciplinary field for understanding the social, political, and productive dynamics that shape health systems. This study analyzes the trajectory of economic thought and its implications for the field of health, with an emphasis on the contributions and limitations of the neoclassical approach, as well as the effects of the advancement of capitalism and neoliberalism on public policies and the organization of health systems. This is a narrative review based on classical and contemporary authors in political economy and public health. The results indicate that the evolution of economic thought has contributed to the consolidation of a technicist and productivist view of health, especially from the perspective of neoclassical economics, reducing it to a factor of economic efficiency. In contrast, critical approaches highlight the social determination of the health-disease process and the impacts of structural inequalities. It is concluded that an expanded understanding of health as a social right requires overcoming reductionist models and strengthening the role of the State in regulation, financing, and ensuring universal access.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Karla Regina Dias de Oliveira, Federal University of Sao Paulo

PhD in Translational Medicine (Unifesp), with a Master’s degree in Health Economics (Unifesp) and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Obstetrics (Uniban). Holds specializations in intensive care, nursing management and auditing, and psychopedagogy. Has been working since 1995 in regulation, auditing, and quality in supplementary health care, with experience in management (including 8 years at Unimed Brasil), scientific production, and teaching.

Marcia Mello Costa De Liberal, Federal University of Sao Paulo

Post-Doctorate in Political Science (University of Buenos Aires) and in Social Sciences (Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo), and PhD in Economic Sociology and Organizational Studies (University of Lisbon). Associate Professor IV at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), working at EPPEN-Osasco in the undergraduate Economics program and in the Master’s Program in Public Administration. She serves as an institutional and undergraduate program evaluator for INEP/MEC and is a member of the Brazilian Regional Commission of ARCU-SUL, acting as an evaluator in the Economics field. She has extensive academic production in Economics, Education, Management, Health, and Labor, and experience as an author and editor of academic books and scientific articles.

References

BRAGA, José Carlos de Souza; DE PAULA, Sérgio Góes. Saúde e previdência: estudos de política social. São Paulo: Hucitec, 1986.

DARDOT, Pierre; LAVAL, Christian. A nova razão do mundo: ensaio sobre a sociedade neoliberal. São Paulo: Boitempo, 2016.

DE LIBERAL, Márcia Mello Costa. Avaliação econômica em saúde. Editora Senac São Paulo, 2020.

DE LIMA OLIVEIRA, Luci Fernandes. Compreendendo a avaliação econômica em saúde: uma análise didática e crítica. Revista Científica Acertte, v. 5, n. 5, p. e55244-e55244, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.63026/acertte.v5i5.244

DE SOUSA, Íris Lopes; DE LIBERAL, Márcia Mello Costa. Identificação das situações de riscos e aspectos preventivos para a síndrome de burnout nos gestores de saúde. Revista Científica Acertte, v. 4, n. 5, p. e45187-e45187, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.63026/acertte.v4i5.187

GADELHA, Carlos Augusto Grabois. O complexo industrial da saúde e a necessidade de um enfoque dinâmico na economia da saúde. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, Rio de Janeiro, v. 8, n. 2, p. 521-535, 2003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232003000200015

LEFÈVRE, Fernando. O medicamento como mercadoria simbólica. São Paulo: Cortez, 1991.

MALTHUS, Thomas Robert. Ensaio sobre a população. São Paulo: Nova Cultural, 1996.

MARQUES, Rosa Maria; MENDES, Áquilas. O financiamento do Sistema Único de Saúde e as diretrizes da política econômica. Revista de Economia Política, São Paulo, v. 32, n. 3, p. 421-438, 2012.

MARX, Karl. O capital: crítica da economia política. São Paulo: Boitempo, 2013.

MUSHKIN, Selma J. Towards a definition of health economics. Public Health Reports, Washington, v. 73, n. 9, p. 785-793, 1958. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/4590242

PAIM, Jairnilson Silva. O que é o SUS. Rio de Janeiro: Fiocruz, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7476/9788575413425

RICARDO, David. Princípios de economia política e tributação. São Paulo: Abril Cultural, 1982.

SMITH, Adam. A riqueza das nações. São Paulo: Nova Cultural, 1996.

VIANA, Ana Luiza d’Ávila; ELIAS, Paulo Eduardo. Saúde e desenvolvimento. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, Rio de Janeiro, v. 12, supl., p. 1765-1777, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232007000700002

Downloads

Published

2026-04-15

How to Cite

Oliveira, K. R. D. de, & De Liberal, M. M. C. (2026). ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND HEALTH: HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY AND CONTEMPORARY IMPLICATIONS. ACERTTE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL, 6(2), e62306. https://doi.org/10.63026/acertte.v6i2.306

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026): CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE ARTICLES

Section

article

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2026 ACERTTE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Os direitos autorais dos artigos/resenhas/TCCs publicados pertecem à revista ACERTTE, e seguem o padrão Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), permitindo a cópia ou reprodução, desde que cite a fonte e respeite os direitos dos autores  e contenham menção aos mesmos nos créditos. Toda e qualquer obra publicada na revista, seu conteúdo é de responsabilidade dos autores, cabendo a ACERTTE apenas ser o veículo de divulgação, seguindo os padrões nacionais e internacionais de publicação.