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NIOSH Programs > Economics > Program Description
EconomicsProgram DescriptionEconomics often is defined as the study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It includes studying how limited or scarce resources are and would best be allocated among competing needs or uses, under the assumption that individuals strive to maximize their satisfaction or utility. Studying the economic conditions that influence the incidence and severity of occupational injury or illness, as well as the economic consequences of occupational injury or illness for workers, employers, and society overall, provides guidance for the optimal allocation of limited resources in occupational safety and health. Economics research also can provide guidance for the design of practical safety and health interventions and can illuminate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of such interventions. Furthermore, an economic perspective focuses on how investing in worker knowledge, skills, and safety and health, influences outcomes such as productivity, earnings, and the overall welfare of workers, employers, organizations, nations, and the world. Therefore, the application of economics in occupational safety and health provides a framework to identify economic inefficiencies associated with poor safety and health outcomes and points to the prevention opportunities with the greatest impact. This can make an important contribution to the NIOSH mission to provide national and world leadership in order to prevent work-related illnesses and injuries. To better coordinate NIOSH efforts in research, guidance, information, and service, NIOSH is organizing its program portfolio of activities into various specific programmatic categories that can be readily communicated and strategically governed and evaluated. The NIOSH Program Portfolio focuses on relevance, quality, and impact, through strong involvement of partners and stakeholders. Current NIOSH activities in economics build on the work of the former NIOSH Economics Interest Group and the former team for Social and Economic Consequences of Workplace Illness and Injury, one of the 21 priority areas of the original National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). Currently, economics-related projects supported by NIOSH include,3 grants, and 32 intramural projects. |
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NIOSH Program Portfolio:Economics |
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