Can Healthcare Help Grow an Economy: the Case of Dearborn, Michigan

Healthcare has been and continues to be a force in growing the United States economy. Combined with Education, healthcare has been a catalyst for economic growth: see Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and states such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and others. The purpose of this paper is to provide a GENERAL REVIEW of the potential for healthcare to help grow an economy. Dearborn Michigan is selected for analysis because of its strong healthcare networks, outstanding higher education resources and major manufacturing bases, along with a relatively large immigration share of the population. The socio-economic aspects underlying quality healthcare and Pope Francis’ recognition of healthcare as a source for human dignity at a conference in Rome recently can provide an impetus for innovation and economic growth.