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Learning for Life: A Cross-National Analysis Comparing Education with Other Determinants of Infant Mortality

Author

Listed:
  • Luigi Maria Solivetti

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali ed Economiche, Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Alessandra Mirone

    (Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali ed Economiche, Sapienza University of Rome)

Abstract

Notwithstanding extensive improvements over the last decades, infant mortality (IM) still shows huge – and increasing – disparities across the world. This paper compares various paradigms (education, growth, dependency, demographic factors) used to explain this blatant inequality. The paradigm focusing on education emerges as particularly corroborated. A wide series of education indicators are considered and contrasted, vis-à-vis several measures of mortality. The main education indicators seem to have a significant impact on IM, though some of them – in particular, variables taking account of gender – are particularly momentous. The education-IM relation does not change, whatever the indicator used to measure mortality. What is more, the education-IM relation works at both low and high levels of infant mortality, and is limitedly affected by the geographical and cultural-religious context. All in all, with regards to infant/child mortality reduction, education emerges more as a ‘stand-alone’ paradigm than just as an auxiliary variable.

Suggested Citation

  • Luigi Maria Solivetti & Alessandra Mirone, 2014. "Learning for Life: A Cross-National Analysis Comparing Education with Other Determinants of Infant Mortality," Working Papers 3/14, Sapienza University of Rome, DISS.
    • Handle: RePEc:saq:wpaper:3/14
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; Development; Infant Mortality.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development

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