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Standards of living and health status: the socioeconomic determinants of life expectancy gain in sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Keita, Moussa

Abstract

Using a panel dataset on 45 sub-Saharan Africa countries (SSA), this study analyzes empirically the socioeconomic determinants of life expectancy gain (considered as an indicator of global health improvement at country level). In order to treat heterogeneity and endogeneity concerns, we use multiple estimation methods including pooling, fixed-effect, long difference and system GMM. Our analyses show that income is critical for health enhancement. Particularly, we find that GDP per capita is strongly and positively correlated with life expectancy gain. Furthermore, variables such as adult literacy, access to improved sanitation and safe water appear positively correlated health gain. In contrast the high incidence of extreme poverty is negatively correlated with heath gain while the impact of income inequality seems ambiguous.

Suggested Citation

  • Keita, Moussa, 2013. "Standards of living and health status: the socioeconomic determinants of life expectancy gain in sub-Saharan Africa," MPRA Paper 57553, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:57553
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    Cited by:

    1. Rasha M. S. Istaiteyeh, 2017. "Economic and Social Factors in Shaping Jordan’s Life Expectancy: Empirical Analysis (1990-2014)," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 7(5), pages 1-4.
    2. Rabia Liaqat & Maimoona Waseem & Hafiz Muhammad Abubakar Siddique & Muhammad Tariq Majeed, 2021. "Health Outcomes Of Poverty: Evidence From Around The Globe," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 10(3), pages 43-55, September.
    3. Behiye Cavusoglu & Obadiah Jonathan Gimba, 2021. "Life Expectancy in Sub-Sahara Africa: An Examination of Long-Run and Short-Run Effects," Asian Development Policy Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 9(1), pages 57-68, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Standards of living; health; life expectancy at birth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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