Economic Complexity and Health: The Case of G-7 Countries

Abstract

Economic complexity refers to the diversity and sophistication of the productive capacities within an economy. Therefore, it provides important insights into the capabilities of economies and their potential growth levels. By increasing their level of economic complexity, countries can improve their economic performance and socioeconomic status. Given that socioeconomic status, a key determinant of health, has a profound impact on health outcomes, the relationship between a country's health status and its economic complexity presents a multifaceted and intriguing area of research for policymakers. The impact of economic complexity on health is explained through indirect transmission mechanisms. In this context, the aim of this study is to examine the impact of economic complexity on health in the G-7 countries using data from the period 1995-2021. The findings obtained from the Fixed Effects Driscoll-Kraay estimator reveal that economic complexity has a positive impact on health (life expectancy at birth). In other words, a one-unit increase in economic complexity increases life expectancy at birth by 0.120 units. Therefore, in G-7 countries, the returns provided by economic complexity can be transformed into health-promoting practices through policies that support the social determinants of health.

Keywords

• Economic Complexity
• Health
• G-7 Countries

Ekonomik Karmaşıklık ve Sağlık: G-7 Ülkeleri Örneği

Abstract

Ekonomik karmaşıklık, bir ekonomideki üretim kapasitelerinin çeşitliliği ve sofistike düzeyini ifade etmektedir. Dolayısıyla ekonomilerin yetenekleri ve potansiyel büyüme düzeyine ilişkin önemli bilgiler sunmaktadır. Böylelikle ülkeler ekonomik karmaşıklık düzeylerini artırarak, ekonomik performanslarını ve sosyoekonomik durumlarını iyileştirebilmektedir. Bununla birlikte, sağlığın önemli bir belirleyicisi olan sosyoekonomik durumun, sağlık sonuçları üzerinde derin bir etkiye sahip olduğu dikkate alındığında bir ülkenin sağlık durumu ile ekonomik karmaşıklığı arasındaki ilişki, politika yapıcılar için çok yönlü ve ilgi çekici bir araştırma alanı olmaktadır. Ekonomik karmaşıklığın sağlık üzerindeki etkisi dolaylı aktarım mekanizmaları ile açıklanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın amacı, G-7 ülkelerinde ekonomik karmaşıklığın sağlık üzerindeki etkisinin 1995-2021 dönemine ilişkin verilerle incelenmesidir. Sabit Etkili Driscoll-Kraay tahmin edicisinden elde edilen bulgular, ekonomik karmaşıklığın sağlık (doğumda yaşam beklentisi) üzerinde pozitif bir etkisinin olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Diğer bir ifadeyle, ekonomik karmaşıklıktaki 1 birimlik bir artış doğumda yaşam beklentisini 0,120 birim artırmaktadır. Dolayısıyla G-7 ülkelerinde, ekonomik karmaşıklığın sağladığı getiri sağlığın sosyal belirleyenlerini destekleyici politika uygulamaları aracılığıyla sağlık üzerinde teşvik edici uygulamalara dönüştürülebilir.

Keywords

• Ekonomik Karmaşıklık
• Sağlık
• G-7 Ülkeleri

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