Do Political Institutions protect the poor? Intra Countries Health Inequalities and Air Pollution in Developing Countries

This paper examines the link between health inequalities, air pollution and political institutions. In health economics literature, many studies have assessed the association between environmental degradation and health outcomes. This paper extends this literature by investigating how air pollution could explain health inequalities both between and within developing countries, and the role of political institutions in this relationship. Theoretically, we argue that differential in exposition to air pollution among income classes, prevention ability against health effect of environment degradation, capacity to respond to disease caused by pollutants and susceptibility of some groups to air pollution effect are sufficient to expect a positive link between air pollution and income related health inequality. Furthermore, in democratic countries, this heterogeneity in the health effect of pollution may be mitigated since good institutions favour universal health policy issues, information and advices about hygiene and health practices, and health infrastructures building. Our econometric results show that sulphur dioxide emission (SO2) and particulate matter (PM10) are in part responsible for the large disparities in infant and child mortalities between and within developing countries. In addition, we found that democratic institutions play the role of social protection by mitigating this effect for the poorest income classes and reducing the health inequality it provokes.health inequality;air pollution;political institutions;social protection

Environment Quality and Economic Convergence: Extending Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis.

This paper examines the link between environmental indicators and economic convergence for a large sample of rich and poor countries. While in economic literature income and environment are seen to have an inverted-U shaped relationship (Environment Kuznets Curve hypothesis), it is also well established that an improvement in environmental quality is positively related to economic activity. In the early stage of economic development, the gain from income growth could be cancelled or mitigated by environmental degradation through some channels and create a vicious circle in economic activity unlike in developed countries. This in turn could slow down economic convergence. We empirically assess this issue through an econometric model. We found that environmental degradation affects negatively economic activity and reduces the ability of poor countries to reach developed ones economically.Environmental quality, Income growth, Economic convergence, Speed of convergence

Impact of Income Inequality on Health: Does Environment Quality Matter?

This paper examines the link between health indicators, environmental variables and income inequalities. Theoretically, all the mechanisms developed in the literature underline a negative impact of income inequality on health status. However, empirical studies find different results and the conclusions are far from a consensus. In this paper we investigate how environment degradation could be considered as a channel through which income distribution affects population health. We first develop a simple theoretical model based on Magnani (2000), in which relative income affects health status through the level of pollution abatement expenditures. Our econometric analysis shows that income inequalities negatively affect environmental quality and environment degradation worsens population's health. This negative effect of income inequalities on environment is mitigated by good institutions. We also show that income inequalities negatively affect health status. Another interesting result is that when environmental variables are taken into account, the level and the statistical significance of the coefficient of income inequality variable vanish. This confirms that environment quality is an important channel through which income inequalities affect population health. These results hold for air pollution indicators (CO2 and SO2) and water pollution indicator (BOD). It is also robust for rich and developing countries. Countries with high income inequalities may implement distributive policies in order to avoid its negative impact on health.health status;income inequality;Environmental quality;instrumental variables method

Income inequality and health status: role of institutions quality

This paper investigates the relationships between health indicators, institutional variables and income inequality. In the economic literature, the impact of income distribution on health status is largely studied. Theoretically, all the mechanisms developed in the literature highlight a negative impact of income inequality on health status. However, empirical studies find different results and the conclusions are far from a consensus. In this article, we partly propose an explanation to these discrepancies on the effect of income distribution on health by introducing institutions quality in the debate. More precisely, we assess whether the effect of income inequality on population's health is conditional to institutions quality. Our analysis shows that income inequality affects negatively population health and this negative effect is mitigated by good institutions. Another interesting result is that income inequality affects higher health status in developing countries as compare to others.health status, income inequality, institutions quality, instrumental variables method, panel data

Do Political Institutions protect the poor? Intra Countries Health Inequalities and Air Pollution in Developing Countries

This paper examines the link between health inequalities, air pollution and political institutions. In health economics literature, many studies have assessed the association between environmental degradation and health outcomes. This paper extends this literature by investigating how air pollution could explain health inequalities both between and within developing countries, and the role of political institutions in this relationship. Theoretically, we argue that differential in exposition to air pollution among income classes, prevention ability against health effect of environment degradation, capacity to respond to disease caused by pollutants and susceptibility of some groups to air pollution effect are sufficient to expect a positive link between air pollution and income related health inequality. Furthermore, in democratic countries, this heterogeneity in the health effect of pollution may be mitigated since good institutions favour universal health policy issues, information and advices about hygiene and health practices, and health infrastructures building. Our econometric results show that sulphur dioxide emission (SO2) and particulate matter (PM10) are in part responsible for the large disparities in infant and child mortalities between and within developing countries. In addition, we found that democratic institutions play the role of social protection by mitigating this effect for the poorest income classes and reducing the health inequality it provokes

Remittances, Public Health Spending and Foreign Aid in the Access to Health Care Services in Developing Countries

The aim of this paper is to analyze the respective impacts of remittances, health aid and public spending on the access to health care services in developing countries. The specific objectives are threefold. Firstly, we quantify the differential impacts of remittances on the access to public and private health care services. Secondly, we determine whether remittances and foreign health aid are complements or substitutes in the access to health care services. Lastly, we evaluate the heterogeneity of the impact of remittances in the access to public and private health care services by quintile of income. We provide a rigorous econometric analysis by controlling for the endogeneity of remittances, public spending and foreign aid. We find that remittances, health aid and public spending are important determinants of access to health services in recipients’ countries. Another interesting result comes from the fact that, remittances lead to a sectorial glide in the uses of health care services from the public to the private sector for the intermediate income class. This result holds also for the richer quintiles that are the major recipients of remittances in developing countries. Moreover, remittances and foreign health aid are complements for the access to health care services in “low” income countries. Finally, these results suggest that policies aiming at increasing remittances are appropriate for developing countries but also that, the “optimal” therapy for the “low” income countries is the combination of remittances and foreign aid.Remittances, health aid, public spending, access to health care services, developing countries, instrumental variables method

Interrelationships between Health, Environment Quality and Economic Activity: What Consequences for Economic Convergence

This paper examines the link between health indicators, environmental variables and economic development, and the consequences of this relationship on economic convergence for a large sample of rich and poor countries. While in economic literature income and environment are seen to have an inverted-U shaped relationship (Environment Kuznets Curve hypothesis), it is also well established that an improvement in environmental quality is positively related to health. Our study focuses on the implications of this relationship for economic convergence. In the early stage of economic development, the gain from income growth could be cancelled or mitigated by environmental degradation through populations' health (and other channels) and create a vicious circle in economic activity unlike in developed countries. This in turn could slow down economic convergence. To empirically assess these issues, we proceeded to an econometric analysis through three equations: a growth equation, a health equation and an environment equation. We found that environmental degradation affects negatively economic activity and reduces the ability of poor countries to reach developed ones economically. We also found that health is a channel through which environment impacts economic growth. This shows that environmental quality could be considered as a constraint for economic convergence

Agricultural primary commodity export and environmental degradation: what consequences for population's health?

In the economic literature it is generally found that trade openness affects environment through various channels. While the mechanisms through which trade is associated with pollution are largely investigated theoretically and empirically, the role played by each trade component has not yet received enough attention. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by examining the consequences of agricultural primary commodity export on population's health via physical environment degradation. Using panel data from 1991 to 2009, and instrumental variables technique, the findings suggest that agricultural primary commodity export increases agricultural methane and nitrous oxide emissions as well as water pollution (biological oxygen demand). This environmental degradation from trade worsens population's health (infant and child mortality rates, and life expectancy at birth). These results are robust to different subcomponents of primary agricultural export, to African sample, and to other environmental variables considered.primary commodity;agriculture;Trade;environment;health;instrumental variables technique

Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Migration: An Empirical Analysis in Developing Countries

The aim of this paper is to assess the relationship between natural disasters caused by climate change and migration by examining migration rates and levels of education in developing countries. Many studies such as the Stern review (2007) or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) predict an intensification of climate change for future years. Thus climate change has taken an essential place in world governance. The relationship between climate change, natural disasters and migration is crucial; developed countries need to manage the increasingly complicated issues of additional incoming migratory flows caused by environmental degradation. We investigate this relationship by using panel data from developing countries in order to see the effect of natural disasters on migration rates and how that varies according to the level of education. Estimations are made with a country fixed effects estimator through an accurate econometric model. The results confirm previous studies, namely that natural disasters are positively associated with emigration rates. But beyond this result, the main contribution of this paper is to show that natural disasters due to climate change exacerbate the brain drain in developing countries characterized by the migration of highly skilled people just when those countries are at their most vulnerable and need greater support from skilled workers to deal with the damage associated with natural disasters. The paper also shows that this effect varies depending on geographical location.natural disasters, climate change, migration

Do Political Institutions protect the poor? Intra Countries Health Inequalities and Air Pollution in Developing Countries

This paper examines the link between health inequalities, air pollution and political institutions. In health economics literature, many studies have assessed the association between environmental degradation and health outcomes. This paper extends this literature by investigating how air pollution could explain health inequalities both between and within developing countries, and the role of political institutions in this relationship. Theoretically, we argue that differential in exposition to air pollution among income classes, prevention ability against health effect of environment degradation, capacity to respond to disease caused by pollutants and susceptibility of some groups to air pollution effect are sufficient to expect a positive link between air pollution and income related health inequality. Furthermore, in democratic countries, this heterogeneity in the health effect of pollution may be mitigated since good institutions favour universal health policy issues, information and advices about hygiene and health practices, and health infrastructures building. Our econometric results show that sulphur dioxide emission (SO2) and particulate matter (PM10) are in part responsible for the large disparities in infant and child mortalities between and within developing countries. In addition, we found that democratic institutions play the role of social protection by mitigating this effect for the poorest income classes and reducing the health inequality it provokes.health inequality, air pollution, political institutions, social protection