At around 17/5/06 6:50 pm, Ulhas Joglekar wrote:
> Jim Devine wrote:
>
>>> What were life expectancies in Cuba in 1959?
>> "Cuban achievements in health care since 1959 were a consequence of
>> the full commitment to health care by the state, the planned
>> economy, and mass participation. In 1959 the infant mortality rate
>> was 60/1000 live births and life expectancy was 65.1 years.
>
> So Cuban life expectancy has improved from 65 to 75-80 years in 45
> years. Life expectancy in India has improved from 35 to 65 years
> during 1950-2000. Countries in East and South East Asia have
> performed better than India.
>
Do you really think it is meaningful to compare raw numbers, in this
case: an increase from 35 (pathetic by any standard post 19th century)
to 65, with an increase from 65 to 75-80? So, if I understand this
right, India by comparison to itself will seem a failure if it lifts
life expectancy from 65 to 85 in the next 50 years, since that is lesser
than the previous performance. And unless Indians are on average living
past 100 in 70 or so years, we can only blame neo-liberalism, yes?
--ravi
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