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For Health, Strength, and Daily Food: The Dual Impact of Remittances and Public Health Expenditure on Household Health Spending and Child Health Outcomes

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  • Sophia C. Terrelonge

Abstract

Child and infant mortality in developing countries decreased 33.5 per cent and 30.9 per cent, respectively, during 1995-2009, while remittances and public health spending more than doubled. I examine how remittances and government health spending improve these child health outcomes. Neither government health spending nor remittances causally affect household health spending. Public health spending has an insignificant negative impact on mortality. The increase in remittances causally accounts for 32 per cent and 37 per cent of the decline in child and infant mortality, respectively. Remittances reduce mortality through improved living standards from the relaxation of households' budget constraints.

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  • Sophia C. Terrelonge, 2014. "For Health, Strength, and Daily Food: The Dual Impact of Remittances and Public Health Expenditure on Household Health Spending and Child Health Outcomes," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(10), pages 1397-1410, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:50:y:2014:i:10:p:1397-1410
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2014.940911
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Uweis Abdulahi Ali Bare & Yasmin Bani & Normaz Wana Ismail & Anitha Rosland, 2021. "Remittances And Health Outcomes In Sub-Saharan African Countries: Understanding The Role Of Financial Development And Institutional Quality," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 66(229), pages 119-144, April – J.
    3. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2020. "Development aid, remittances inflows and wages in the manufacturing sector," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 22(2), pages 278-304, December.
    4. SeyedSoroosh Azizi, 2021. "The impacts of workers’ remittances on poverty and inequality in developing countries," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 969-991, February.
    5. Ramkissoon, Benjamin & Deonanan, Regan, 2023. "How do remittances impact child mortality and are there preconditions?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    6. Anil Shrestha & Makoto Kakinaka, 2022. "Remittance Inflows and Energy Transition of the Residential Sector in Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Zhuang Hong & Wang Miao & Daniels Joseph, 2020. "Foreign Aid and Adolescent Fertility Rate: Cross-Country Evidence," Journal of Globalization and Development, De Gruyter, vol. 11(1), pages 1-35, June.
    8. Ibrahim A. Adekunle & Sheriffdeen A. Tella, 2021. "Remittances and the Future of African Economies," Working Papers 21/053, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    9. Azizi, SeyedSoroosh, 2018. "The impacts of workers' remittances on human capital and labor supply in developing countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 377-396.
    10. Larry L. Howard & Denise L. Stanley, 2017. "Remittances channels and the physical growth of Honduran children," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 376-397, May.
    11. Ibrahim A. Adekunle & Sheriffdeen A. Tella, 2021. "Remittances and the Future of African Economies," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 21/053, African Governance and Development Institute..
    12. Brian Chezum & Cynthia Bansak & Animesh Giri, 2018. "Are Remittances Good for Your Health? Remittances and Nepal’s National Healthcare Policy," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 44(4), pages 594-615, September.

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