Health expenditure and socio-economic determinants of life expectancy in the OECD Asia/Pacific area countries.

Abstract

Recent economic research is focused on the study of the relationship between socioeconomic factors and health outcomes. In this study, it is explored that relationship in the OECD Asia/Pacific area countries regarding life expectancy. Data from the World Bank and OECD Health Statistics (2015) have been used to build a panel data during the period 1995-2013. On the one hand, it was found that per capita income, unemployment and exchange rates improve health outcomes. On the other one, poor performance, in terms of government expenditures for the countries-sample, comes across. Empirical results highlight the importance of cost-effectiveness analysis.