by Alexander Perepechko
Published on May 8, 2017
In a previous paper, I explored Kondratiev waves. These waves (sometimes called K-waves or cycles) show that economic and social development is primarily determined by long periodic cycles characterized by technological innovations in specific economic/industrial areas (Kondratieff, 2014) (Figure 28). A cycle lasts about 40-60 years. These long cycles fulfill a mostly strategic role: leaders who identify the current Kondratiev wave early are able to take the lead in economic and social development and benefit the most from its impetus.
I found that the recent information technology (IT) long wave – the 5th Kondratiev cycle – has faded, although not ended yet. IT was and still is a source of power for the 5th cycle. While the 5th wave is on the decline, the 6th Kondratiev wave has started. Psychosocial health (or health care) is the growth vehicle of the new K-wave. The health care can be defined as health in a holistic sense – physical, biological, psychological, and mental health (Nefiodow & Nefiodow, 2015: 47, 57).
I also conjectured that America is losing its lead in the development of the psychosocial health sector to Europe, Japan, and China. Does this mean that American elites pay little attention to health care as the new engine of economic growth?
Indeed many politicians and media in America are highly skilled in the art of manufacturing and presenting biased information about health care. This unfortunate fact must not prevent us from an effort to find some truth about the matter. When reforms pertaining to health legislation stall, independent social science expertise in this area is in urgent need.
Compared to the rest of the world, how is the health industry doing in America?
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