Abstract

There are important links between the economic situation, health and well-being. So much so, that we continue to use Gdp as a way of measuring a country's wellbeing. At the same time, it seems that the increased average life expectancy during the nineteenth century in the industrialised countries was not only the result of advances in bio-medical sciences, but also the consequence of the economic development and the related improvements in the standard of living. Therefore, in consideration of the current economic crisis in the industrialised countries, it is important to reflect on the consequences to health. This paper engages with the theme of the impact economic crises has on humans, by examining the changes which occur in the consumer patterns in relation to medicines, personal care products and health services. This work, which aims to be descriptive, rather than explicative or predictive, employs a quantitative method of data analysis collected over repeated surveys from 2009 to 2012 on a panel specifically referring to the Italian population and which also presents some evidence in regards to the impact of the economic crisis on the subjectively perceived sense of well-being.