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Empirical analysis of associations between health expenditure and forest environments: A case of Japan

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  • Kabaya, Kei

Abstract

Surrounding natural environments, especially green space and forests, are considered beneficial to our physical and psychological health. Nevertheless, their contributions to our health expenditure are limitedly investigated in the literature to date. The goal of this paper is to explore associations between health spending and forest environments at the prefectural level in Japan. Fully considering cross-sectional dependence and non-stationarity of the variables, my empirical analysis revealed that mixed forest coverage and urban-forest proximity would have significantly inverse long-run effects on per capita health expenditure. These findings would support current domestic forest policies from public health perspectives. Whereas, no empirical evidences of the short-run health impacts of these forest indicators were found in this study. Also, other forest indicators, i.e. overall, evergreen and deciduous forest coverage as well as regional vegetation diversity, were found to be insignificant in determining health expenditure.

Suggested Citation

  • Kabaya, Kei, 2021. "Empirical analysis of associations between health expenditure and forest environments: A case of Japan," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:181:y:2021:i:c:s0921800920322187
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106927
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