Impact of Life Expectancy on Economics Growth and Health Care Expenditures in Bangladesh

Rashidul Alam Mahumud,Ripter Hossain,Golam Hossain,Lal Rawal,Nurul Islam

doi:10.13189/ujph.2013.010405

Abstract

Life expectancy is one of the major key indicators of population health condition and economic development of a country. The main objective of this study was to find determine the impact of the life expectancy on changes of economic growth and health care expenditure, and also to find examine the sex difference trend of life expectancy according to the sex difference. Using We used multiple regression models are fitted to estimate the impact of the life expectancy on economic growth and health care expenditure and also to estimate elasticity of life expectancy on health care expenditure and economic growth. Results shows female life expectancy was more than male over the past 15 years. The higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was seen in a longer life expectancy. i.e., one dollar increasing in GDP per capita will change in an average the life expectancy by 33 days, and also one unit increase in per person Health Expenditure Per Capita (HEPC) will increase the life expectancy in an average of 8 days in a year. one dollar increasing in GDP per capita by 33 days will also increase life expectancy, for Health Expenditure Per Capita (HEPC), by 8 days by one year on average. The higher proportion of total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP and direct personal expenditure on health by household as a share of private expenditure on health results in also longer life span. The study has some policy implications for Bangladesh, we conclude that the increased life expectancy has direct impact on increase in per capita real income and higher expenditure on health., population planning and equity for health important for life expectancy. This study has policy implications for Bangladesh, in particular the needs for increased per capita real income and planning for future health and population policies/programs. Therefore, political stability, adequate and suitable social sector policies and government interventions are required to increase life expectancy and economic growth. There is also a need for involvement of health human force in macro and micro policy-makings and critically examine other determinant of health care expenditure.

Highlights

Life expectancy is one of the major key indicators of population health condition and economic development of a country
Having discussed the evidence available and the gaps identified in terms of life expectancy and health care as a potential determinant, in this study, we examine the impact of life expectancy on changes in economic level and health care expenditure
This study explored determinants of life expectancy in Bangladesh, using multiple regression models

Summary

Introduction

Life expectancy is one of the major key indicators of population health condition and economic development of a country. The life expectancy of people at birth has increased over the last few decades. People of developed regions in general have higher life expectancies than people of low and middle income countries. People of Japan have the longest life expectancy at birth worldwide. In upper middle income countries like South Africa, the life expectancy at birth is 60 years. To the best of our knowledge, there are limited number of studies that have been conducted in Bangladesh, which examined the impact of life expectancy at birth on the economic change and health care expenditure. The previous studies of the cross country analyses have demonstrated that health condition leads to economic growth [4,5,6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion