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Is Urbanization Good for the Health of Middle-Aged and Elderly People in China?—Based on CHARLS Data

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  • Xuena Liu

    (College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China)

  • Wei Fang

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
    Key Laboratory of Carrying Capacity Assessment for Resource and Environment, Ministry of Land and Resources, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Haiming Li

    (College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China)

  • Xiaodan Han

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Han Xiao

    (College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to test whether improved healthcare services can mitigate health hazards resulting from environmental pollution in the urbanization process. Specifically, using China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data and official statistics, this paper constructs comprehensive urbanization indicators and healthcare service indicators by applying the fully arrayed polygonal graphical indication method. Then, we introduce healthcare service indicators, urbanization indicators, environmental pollution indicators, and the interaction term between environmental pollution and healthcare into an ordered-logistics regression model. Our results indicate that improvement in health conditions can decrease the health risks from multiplied emissions of industrial sulfur dioxide, industrial soot and dust, and industrial effluents, but it cannot counteract the adverse health effects of PM 2.5 . Furthermore, heterogeneity tests show that, when considering the multidimensionality of urbanization, the positive influence of healthcare is the greatest in residential surroundings urbanization and economic urbanization, which reduces the prevalence of chronic diseases by 18.4% and 14.9%, respectively. Among the diverse city types, mixed-economy cities have the most obvious positive effects, where healthcare has the greatest mitigating effect on the health damage caused by industrial sulfur dioxide and industrial soot and dust, decreasing the prevalence of chronic diseases among the middle-aged and elderly by 27.3% and 16.4%, respectively. When considering the regional impacts of urbanization, there is a large difference in the positive effects brought about by medical care, which is reflected mainly in eastern and western China. In eastern China, although healthcare does not offset the health damage of PM 2.5 , the increase in chronic diseases among the middle-aged and elderly is only 0.5%, while in western China, the increase rises to 22.4%.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuena Liu & Wei Fang & Haiming Li & Xiaodan Han & Han Xiao, 2021. "Is Urbanization Good for the Health of Middle-Aged and Elderly People in China?—Based on CHARLS Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4996-:d:546133
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    References listed on IDEAS

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