Abstract

This paper assessed the effect of human capital on the relationship between income inequality and HIV prevalence. We used 1999 dataset on human capital dispersion which was measured by years of schooling, quality of school system and rates of return for 99 countries. Using regression analysis, linear dependence effect of human capital and income inequality on HIV prevalence was estimated. The linear dependence yielded a relatively bigger effect than the independent effects of human capital and income inequality. This calls for addressing productivity gaps as one of the interventions of HIV/AIDS.

Key words: HIV/AIDS prevalence, human capital, inequality, income, education.