Health and Economic Development I: Infant Mortality

Sagan, L.A. & Afifi, A.A. (1978). Health and Economic Development I: Infant Mortality. IIASA Research Memorandum. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: RM-78-041

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Abstract

This report is one in a series describing the authors' work on the relationship between health and energy. Using cross- sectional as well as longitudinal data, the series examines the role of economic development in improving health. The national data used here extended over the period 1900 to 1975 and covered 99 percent of the world population.

In a previous report (Energy Consumption as an Indicator of Longevity, PP-78-6) the relationship betwenn energy consumption and health was described. In this follow-up study, certain independent variables are examined in order to ascertain the mechanisms underlying the effect of development of infant mortality. Those variables include: nutrition, medical care, education, religion, urbanization, and gross national product. The study population consists of all nations for which data were available. Statistical analysis is both cross-sectional and longitudinal. The authors conclude from this analysis that economic development is responsible for approximately half of the reduction that has occured over the past few decades, and that, of the intervening variables tested, energy consumption and literacy bear a strong and predictive relationship to declining infant death rates. In addition, other still unidentified factors are operating to reduce death rates throughout the world.

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