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A Health Production Function for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

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  • Bichaka Fayissa
  • Paulos Gutema

Abstract

The paper estimates a health production function for Sub-Saharan Africa based on the Grossman (1972) theoretical model that treats social, economic, and environmental factors as inputs of the production system. In estimating this function, socioeconomic and environmental factors such as income per capita, illiteracy rate, food availability, ratio of health expenditure to GDP, urbanization rate, and carbon dioxide emission per worker are specified as determinants of health status, proxied by life expectancy at birth. The parameters of the function are estimated by a method of one-way and two-way panel data analyses. The results obtained from two-way random effect model suggest that an increase in income per capita, a decrease in illiteracy rate, an increase in food availability are well associated with improvement in life expectancy at birth. Overall results suggest that a health policy, which may focus on the provision of health, services, family planning programs, and emergency aids to the exclusion of other socioeconomic aspects may do little in efforts directed toward improving the current health status of the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Bichaka Fayissa & Paulos Gutema, 2008. "A Health Production Function for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)," Working Papers 200808, Middle Tennessee State University, Department of Economics and Finance.
    • Handle: RePEc:mts:wpaper:200808
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    File URL: http://capone.mtsu.edu/berc/working/health.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark C. Berger & J. Paul Leigh, 1989. "Schooling, Self-Selection, and Health," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 24(3), pages 433-455.
    2. Michael Grossman, 1972. "The Demand for Health: A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number gros72-1.
    3. Behrman, Jere R. & Deolalikar, Anil B., 1988. "Health and nutrition," Handbook of Development Economics, in: Hollis Chenery & T.N. Srinivasan (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 14, pages 631-711, Elsevier.
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    Cited by:

    1. Novignon, Jacob & Atakorah, Yaw Boateng, 2016. "How does the health sector benefit from trade openness? Evidence form panel data across sub-Saharan Africa countries," MPRA Paper 72258, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Micheal Kofi Boachie & K. Ramu & Tatjana Põlajeva, 2018. "Public Health Expenditures and Health Outcomes: New Evidence from Ghana," Economies, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-25, October.
    3. Bichaka Fayissa & Anca Traian, 2013. "Estimation of a Health Production Function: Evidence from East-European Countries," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 58(2), pages 134-148, November.
    4. Oyelade, Aduralere Opeyemi & Maku, Olukayode Emmanuel & Oladimeji, Akinfemi, 2021. "Does Trade in Medical Products Improve Health Outcomes in Nigeria? A Macro-Level Analysis," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 10(1), December.
    5. Azza Mohamed Hegazy, 2016. "Mobile Phone and Child Mortality: The Case of Developing Countries," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 6(3), pages 917-925.
    6. Hafiz Muhammad Abubakar Siddique & Saira Nazir & Ghulam Mohey-Ud-Din & Adiqa K. Kiani, 2022. "The Impact Of Poverty On Human Health: A Panel Data Analysis," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 11(1), pages 113-120, March.
    7. Jaison Chireshe & Matthew K. Ocran, 2020. "Health care expenditure and health outcomes in sub‐Saharan African countries," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(3), pages 349-361, September.
    8. Meher-un-Nisa & Hafiz Muhammad Abubakar Siddique, 2022. "Climate Change and Women Health Nexus: Evidence from District Gujranwala," Journal of Policy Research (JPR), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 8(2), pages 54-66, August.
    9. Idrissa Ouedraogo & Issa Dianda & Iyewumi Titilope Adeyele, 2020. "Institutional Quality and Health Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa," Research in Applied Economics, Macrothink Institute, vol. 12(4), pages 22-45, December.
    10. Mr. Marcelo Martinez & Mr. Montfort Mlachila, 2013. "The Quality of the Recent High-Growth Episode in Sub-Saharan Africa," IMF Working Papers 2013/053, International Monetary Fund.
    11. Tahseen Ajaz & Muhammad Tariq Majeed, 2018. "Changing Climate Patterns and Women Health: An Empirical Analysis of District Rawalpindi Pakistan," Global Social Sciences Review, Humanity Only, vol. 3(4), pages 320-342, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sub-Saharan Africa; Health expenditure; Production function; Medical care; Panel data.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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