Determinants of Life Expectancy in Most Polluted Countries: Exploring the Effect of Environmental Degradation

Background: Better understanding of the determinants of national life expectancy is crucial for economic development, as healthy nation is a prerequisite for a wealthy nation. Many socioeconomic, nutritional, lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors can influence a nation’s health and longevity. Environmental degradation is one of the critical determinants of life expectancy, which is still under researched as the literature suggests Objectives: This study aims to investigate the determinants of life expectancy in 31 world’s most polluted countries with particular attention on environmental degradation using the World Bank annual data and British Petroleum data over the period of 18 years (2000-2017), Methods: The empirical investigation is based on the model of Preston Curve where panel corrected standard errors (PCSE) and feasible general least square (FGLS) estimates are employed to explore the long run effects. Pairwise Granger causality test is also used to have short run causality among the variables of interest taking into account the cross sectional dependence test and other essential diagnostic tests. Results: The results confirm the existence of Preston Curve, implying the positive effect of economic growth on the life expectancy. Environmental degradation is found as a threat while health expenditure, clean water and improved sanitation affect the life expectancy positively in the sample countries. The causality test results reveal one-way causality from carbon emissions to life expectancy and bidirectional causalities between drinking water and life expectancy, and sanitation and life expectancy. Conclusion: Our results reveal that environmental degradation is a threat for having the improved life expectancy in our sample countries. Based on the results of this study, we recommend that: (1) policy marker of these countries should adopt policies that will reduce carbon emissions and thus will improve public health and productivity; (2) environment-friendly technologies and resources, such as renewable energy, should be used in production process; (3) healthcare expenditure on national budget should be increased; and (4) clean drinking water and basic sanitation facilities must be ensured for all people.

Early riser, late bloomer: Contextualizing Turkish health achievements in the last 50 years vis-à-vis China and the global picture of development

Where does Turkey’s performance in the health dimension of the Preston Curve stand with regard to comparable countries on the development ladder? When one observes the chronological progression of health and wealth values embedded in the Preston Curve for developing countries, one sees a near monotonic increase across the board, with only a very small number of downwardly mobile countries. In the face of this near-universal increase in health and wealth values, it is necessary to adopt a more comparative perspective in order to situate the Turkish state’s choices and performance within the general story playing out for developing countries in the second half of the 20th century. Utilizing just such a comparative framework, this article uses China’s experience between 1960 and 2010 as an alternative through which to understand Turkey’s development experience.

Health Improvement and Income Growth in the Long Run

This chapter considers the stylized facts regarding the strong nexus between economic development and health, as reflected by the famous Preston curve. By providing a decomposition of the reasons for recent increases in life expectancy, in terms of increased income (shifts along the Preston curve) and shifts of the Preston Curve, the chapter questions whether third factors, such as institutions, are largely omitted factors in this context. While causality is likely to run both ways, the effect of life expectancy on income and income dynamics plays a key role for long-run development because a reduction in mortality rates and a corresponding increase in longevity affect the incentives to acquire human capital and invest in formal education.