The Great Escape

Average human life expectancy has more than doubled since 17 50. How did that happen? This is one of the great questions history. Well, i borrow the the term 'great escape' It's the title of a book by an economist named angus deaton. And it really entails two things: science and statecraft. The rapidly accelerating discoveries that begin with the enlightenment allow ever greater control over infectious disease. But scientific discovery by itself doesn't improve human health. It has to affect behavior and culture and institutions.