Corruption and Population Health in the European Union Countries-An Institutionalist Perspective

Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia

BACKGROUND

Food insecurity and environmental degradation pose significant threats to health outcomes in South Asia, necessitating effective policy interventions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of food insecurity and environmental degradation on health outcome indicators amidst global inflationary shocks and institutional quality arrangements. Additionally, it aims to explore the intricate moderating role of institutional quality on the relationship between food insecurity, endogenous variables, and external shocks.

METHOD

In alignment with the study's objectives, a set of panel data spanning from 2000 to 2021 is compiled for South Asia. The study introduces a novel variable representing inflationary shock, crafted through the integration of inflation datapoints and the application of the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model. Additionally, a distinctive aggregate institutional quality index is formulated, drawing from six key measures of the Worldwide Governance indicators. To scrutinize the effects of food insecurity, environmental degradation, and other explanatory variables, the study employs the two-step system generalized method of moment technique, offering a robust analytical approach to uncover complex relationships and dynamics in the region.

RESULTS

The results indicate that the prevalence of undernourishment, inequality in per capita calorie intake, and CO2 emissions significantly reduce life expectancy and increase mortality rates. Additionally, it shows that per capita kilocalorie supply, per capita GDP, per capita health expenditures, and urbanization are statistically significant for increasing life expectancy and decreasing mortality rates. The findings reveal that inflationary shocks severely affect food insecurity and environmental factors, exerting further pressure on contemporary life expectancy and mortality rates. In rebuttal, the institutional quality index is found to have significant effects on increasing and decreasing life expectancy and mortality rates, respectively. Furthermore, the institutional quality index is effective in moderating the nexus between food insecurity, environmental degradation, and health outcomes while also neutralizing the negative impact of inflationary shocks on the subject.

CONCLUSION

The results verify triple health constraints such as food insecurity, environmental factors, and economic vulnerability to global shocks, which impose severe effects on life expectancy and mortality rates. Furthermore, poor institutional quality is identified as a hindrance to health outcomes in South Asia. The findings suggest specific policy implications that are explicitly discussed.

What is the role of institutional quality in health outcomes? A panel data analysis on 158 countries from 2001-2020

Our study investigated the impact of institutional quality on health system outcomes, utilizing worldwide governance indicators and analyzing data from 158 countries between 2001 and 2020. We employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to create a composite index of institutional quality and conducted various tests to select the appropriate econometric model. The role of institutional quality, along with other variables, in health outcomes was estimated using fixed effects and generalized method of moments (GMM) models. High-income and low-income countries were analyzed separately. The results of our study revealed that institutional quality, as measured by Control of Corruption, Voice and Accountability, Political Stability, Rule of Law, Regulatory Quality, and Government Effectiveness, had a negative impact on infant mortality rates and a positive impact on life expectancy. Similarly, variables such as GDP, mean years of schooling, total health expenditure, and urbanization rate showed a negative association with infant mortality rates and a positive association with life expectancy. Conversely, the logarithm of CO2 emissions exhibited a positive effect on infant mortality rates and a negative effect on life expectancy. These findings highlight the crucial role of institutional quality in determining health outcomes. Improving institutional quality contributes to the development of democratic and meritocratic systems, infrastructure enhancement, efficient tax and subsidy systems, optimal budget allocation, improved public education, and enhanced access to primary healthcare services. The influence of institutional quality is particularly significant in high-income countries compared to low-income countries. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the importance of institutional quality in shaping health system outcomes. Enhancing institutional quality is essential for the overall advancement of healthcare systems, encompassing governance, infrastructure, education, and access to healthcare services. It is crucial to prioritize efforts to improve institutional quality, especially in high-income countries, to achieve better health outcomes for populations worldwide.