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Local economic growth and infant mortality

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  • Kammerlander, Andreas
  • Schulze, Günther G.

Abstract

We estimate the effect of local economic growth on infant mortality. We use geo-referenced data for non-migrating mothers from 46 developing countries and a total of 128 DHS survey rounds and combine it with nighttime luminosity data at a granular level. Using mother fixed effects we show that an increase in local economic activity significantly reduces the probability that the same mother loses a child before its first birthday.

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  • Kammerlander, Andreas & Schulze, Günther G., 2023. "Local economic growth and infant mortality," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:87:y:2023:i:c:s016762962200114x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102699
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    2. Siwei Guo & Zhaopeng Qu & Weizeng Sun & Ming‐ang Zhang, 2024. "Special economic zone and infant mortality: Evidence from China," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(8), pages 1660-1681, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Local economic growth; Child mortality; Nighttime lights;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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