Dynamics of Public Spending on Health and Socio-Economic Development in the European Union: An Analysis from the Perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Antonio Rafael Peña-Sánchez,Mercedes Jiménez-García,José Ruiz-Chico

doi:10.3390/healthcare9030353

Antonio Rafael Peña-Sánchez, Mercedes Jiménez-García + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030353

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Journal: Healthcare	Publication Date: Mar 20, 2021
Citations: 6	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Cádiz

Abstract

In recent years, healthcare has become a fundamental pillar of the level of well-being of any society. With the aim of improving the lives of countries and societies, in 2015 the United Nations (UN) approved the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the Agenda are health and well-being (O3) and the reduction of inequalities (O10). The general objective of this paper is to analyse the impact that the level of socioeconomic development, as well as the evolution of inequalities, have had on public spending on health in European Union countries. The research methodology is based on the application of a regression model and statistical techniques such as sigma convergence, beta convergence and the Gini index. We can see that the levels of public spending on health per capita, the level of socio-economic development and the degree of inequality are closely related in these countries. For this reason, we suggest maintaining sustainable economic growth to reduce the economic disparities between EU countries, and also the current differences in public spending on health per capita.

Highlights

In recent years, healthcare has become a fundamental pillar of the level of well-being of any society
Current statistical and methodological advances make it possible to evaluate the level of economic development with other more complex and refined indicators, it is common in economic literature to use GDP per capita or income per capita as an indicator of the level of economic development
Taking into account that PSH per capita includes the population in the denominator, it is considered appropriate to carry out a study of the progress experienced by the population in the countries of the European Union (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Healthcare has become a fundamental pillar of the level of well-being of any society. The incorporation of aspects such as sustainable development and the reduction of inequalities have marked the current path of social research. In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development This created a new path aimed at improving the lives of countries and societies. The Agenda incorporates a set of goals that include, among others, eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, boosting health and well-being, protecting the planet and ensuring human prosperity [1,2,3]. These goals are targeted to be achieved within the 10 years.

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