In the search for methods to support the decision making process and to maximize the benefit resulting from the health priorities, this paper discusses the investment-production-consumption model (IPC). This method attempts to quantify the socio-economic imapct of mortality. This type of evaluation takes into account age at death and the potential for future productivity and thus assesses the generation of losses or gains to society, depending on the stage of life in wich death occurs. The impact of different causes of death estimated by this method is illustrated from the cause of Mexico. These results are compared with the relative importance attributed by the use of mortality rates and years of potential life lost. The ordering by rates shows heart diseases, accidents and tumors as first causes of deaths. On the other hand, the indicator of years of potential life lost shows causes of death at younger ages to occupy the first place. The YPLLipc, however, gives greater importance to infections, accidents and homicides.
Mortality; Economic value of life; Cause of deaths; Health priorities