Author(s) :

Hsuan-Te Lee, Luen-Dau Li, Nan-Kuei Chen.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is among the most transformative medical technologies, yet its widespread adoption in routine clinical practice remains constrained by high economic and technical barriers. According to conservative estimates from our research, expanded MRI accessibility is estimated to increase GDP by a range of 0.0095% to 0.0117% in relative terms, reflecting measurable macroeconomic benefits. Recent advances in MRI, such as AI-enabled image reconstruction for accelerated scans, cost-effective manufacturing, and the emergence of portable low-field scanners, are poised to improve accessibility and enhance diagnostic capacity. These advances are expected to correlate with national economic indicators such as the gross domestic product (GDP). This paper reviews recent innovations in MRI and focuses specifically on one economic pathway: how mortality reductions associated with improved MRI accessibility correlate with national economic output through changes in the effective labor supply. Using a health-augmented Cobb–Douglas production framework, a model that incorporates health capital as a factor influencing productivity and output and integrating data from existing clinical MRI reports into a simplified model, we conservatively estimate that such mortality improvements could generate short-run national output growth consistent with these projections. Although these short-run gains appear statistically modest, the long-term implications are far more significant. Clinical innovations not only improve healthcare outcomes but also create substantial social and economic returns when considered over extended time horizons. Our findings underscore the importance of sustained investment and research in advanced diagnostic technologies such as MRI, highlighting their dual role in promoting public health and driving economic growth.