Impact of income inequality on health from middle and high income countries in 1991-2010

Abstract

The income inequality and average heath of population level relation is tested in this paper with panel data of 48 high and middle income countries over 20 recent years. Evidence of significantly negative impact of income distribution on life expectancy at birth and positive impact on infant mortality rate has been found. Moreover, GDP per capita also has similar impact on heath in opposite directions. Even though the marginal effects are quantitatively small, results are found to be quite robust when controlling for endogeneity concerns and other issues.