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The relationship between international trade and non-nutritional health outcomes: A systematic review of quantitative studies

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  • Burns, Darren K.
  • Jones, Andrew P.
  • Suhrcke, Marc

Abstract

Markets throughout the world have been reducing barriers to international trade and investment in recent years. The resulting increases in levels of international trade and investment have subsequently generated research interest into the potential population health impact. We present a systematic review of quantitative studies investigating the relationship between international trade, foreign direct investment and non-nutritional health outcomes. Articles were systematically collected from the SCOPUS, PubMed, EconLit and Web of Science databases. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the evidence considered, the 16 included articles were subdivided into individual level data analyses, selected country analyses and international panel analyses. Articles were then quality assessed using a tool developed as part of the project. Nine of the studies were assessed to be high quality, six as medium quality, and one as low quality. The evidence from the quantitative literature suggests that overall, there appears to be a beneficial association between international trade and population health. There was also evidence of the importance of foreign direct investment, yet a lack of research considering the direction of causality. Taken together, quantitative research into the relationship between trade and non-nutritional health indicates trade to be beneficial, yet this body of research is still in its infancy. Future quantitative studies based on this foundation will provide a stronger basis on which to inform relevant national and international institutions about the health consequences of trade policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Burns, Darren K. & Jones, Andrew P. & Suhrcke, Marc, 2016. "The relationship between international trade and non-nutritional health outcomes: A systematic review of quantitative studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 9-17.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:152:y:2016:i:c:p:9-17
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.01.021
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    2. Chiappini, Raphaël & Coupaud, Marine & Viaud, François, 2022. "Does attracting FDI affect population health? New evidence from a multi-dimensional measure of health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    3. Li Zhou & Xiaohong Chen & Lei Lei, 2018. "Intra-Household Allocation of Nutrients in an Opening China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, April.
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    5. Jacob Novignon & Yaw Boateng Atakorah & Gbetoton Nadege Djossou, 2018. "How Does the Health Sector Benefit from Trade Openness? Evidence from Sub‐Saharan Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 30(2), pages 135-148, June.
    6. Lili Huang & Qingyi Gao & Jiachen Fan & Jingwen Zhu & Zhenmu Hong, 2024. "Export stability and adolescent fertility rate," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(3), pages 1675-1706, April.
    7. Ayona Bhattacharjee, 2023. "Does Population Longevity Attract Foreign Direct Investments in Developing Countries?," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 24(2), pages 393-410, April.
    8. Luca Salvatici & Silvia Nenci, 2017. "New features, forgotten costs and counterfactual gains of the international trading system," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 44(4), pages 592-633.
    9. Barlow, Pepita, 2018. "Does trade liberalization reduce child mortality in low- and middle-income countries? A synthetic control analysis of 36 policy experiments, 1963-2005," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 102664, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Burns, Darren K. & Jones, Andrew P. & Goryakin, Yevgeniy & Suhrcke, Marc, 2017. "Is foreign direct investment good for health in low and middle income countries? An instrumental variable approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 74-82.
    11. Panda, Pallavi, 2020. "Does trade reduce infant mortality? Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    12. Hak Yeung & Jürgen Huber, 2023. "China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Life Expectancy in Host Countries: Empirical Analysis," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 29(4), pages 225-242, November.
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