The Effect of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on Health Outcomes: Evidence from BRICS-T Countries

Abstract

This study analyzes the effects information and communications technology (ICTs) have had on health outcomes on Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS countries), and Turkey both on a panel and country basis using data from the period 1990 to 2018. The study has created three models. According to the general findings obtained for the panel, the error correction coefficients of the models other than Model II are negative and statistically significant. Based on the variables of income level, number of physicians, education level, and CO2 emissions used in Model I, the number of physicians and education level are seen to negatively affect life expectancy both in the short and long terms, contrary to theoretical expectations, while income level positively and CO2 emissions negatively affect life expectancy. The number of mobile users represents ICTs and negatively affects life expectancy both in the long and short term. Model III includes number of Internet subscribers, and all variables in this model except number of physicians support theoretical expectations. Accordingly, education and income levels have positive effects, and CO2 emissions have a negative effect. The number of Internet subscribers has both long- and short-term negative effects. When evaluating the findings according to country groups, the variable of income level positively and CO2 emissions negatively affect life expectancy in all countries. The variable of number of physicians has a negative value in all models and countries except for China in Model II. Similarly, the variable of education level generally has a negative impact in all models except Model III. All the ICT variables have negative values and negatively affect life expectancy.

Keywords

• Information and Communication Technology
• Health
• Turkey
• BRICS Countries

Bilgi İletişim Teknoloji (BİT) Kullanımının Sağlık Çıktıları Üzerine Etkisi: BRICS-T Ülkeleri Örneği

Öz

Bu çalışmada BRICS ülkelerinde ve Türkiye’de BİT’lerin sağlık çıktısı üzerine etkisi 1990-2018 dönemine ait veriler kullanılarak hem panel geneli hem de ülke bazlı olarak analiz etmiştir. Çalışmada üç model oluşturulmuştur. Panel geneli için elde edilen bulgulara göre Model II dışında diğer modellere ait hata düzelme katsayıları negatif ve istatistiki açıdan anlamlıdır. Model I’de kontrol değişkenleri olarak kullanılan gelir düzeyi, doktor sayısı, eğitim düzeyi ve CO2 düzeyi değişkenlerinden doktor sayısı ve eğitim düzeyi teorik beklentinin tersi yönünde hem kısa dönemde hem de uzun dönemde negatif etkilerken; gelir düzeyi pozitif ve CO2 düzeyi ise negatif etkilemektedir. BİT’leri temsil eden değişkenlerden cep telefon kullanımı hem uzun hem de kısa dönemde negatif etkilemektedir. İnternet kullanımın yer aldığı Model III’te doktor sayısı dışında tüm değişkenler teorik beklentiyi desteklemektedir. Buna göre eğitim ve gelir düzeyi pozitif, CO2 düzeyi negatif etkilemektedir. İnternet kullanımı ise hem uzun hem de kısa dönemde negatif etkiye sahiptir. Gruplara göre bulgular değerlendirildiğinde ise tüm ülkelerde gelir düzeyi değişkeni pozitif, CO2 emisyonu ise negatif etkilemektedir. Doktor sayısı değişkeni Model II’de Çin dışında tüm model ve ülkelerde negatif işarete sahiptir. Benzer şekilde eğitim düzeyi değişkeni de Model III hariç diğer modellerde genel olarak negatif işarettedir. Çalışmanın konusunu oluşturan BİT’e ait değişkenlerin hepsi negatif değere sahip olup yaşam beklentisini olumsuz etkilemektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bilgi, İletişim ve Teknoloji
• Sağlık
• Türkiye
• BRICS Ülkeleri

Kaynakça

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