Infant mortality and economic instability in Yugoslavia

Area of Science:

• Socioeconomics
• Public Health
• Demography

Background:

• Yugoslavia faced a debt crisis starting in 1979.
• Economic policies implemented to manage the crisis led to declining real incomes.
• This economic downturn coincided with a slowdown in infant mortality decline.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of economic decline on infant mortality rates in Yugoslavia.
• To investigate regional disparities in the effects of economic policies on infant mortality.
• To understand the role of social policies in mitigating economic impacts.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of economic data and infant mortality trends from 1979 onwards.
• Comparison of infant mortality changes across different regions within Yugoslavia.
• Assessment of the influence of redistributive social policies.

Main Results:

• Declining real incomes were associated with a slower rate of infant mortality decline.
• No significant difference in the impact on infant mortality was observed between poorer and more affluent regions.
• Redistributive social policies appeared to buffer the negative effects of economic hardship.

Conclusions:

• Social policies played a crucial role in maintaining relatively equitable infant mortality rates despite economic challenges.
• Yugoslavia's redistributive mechanisms helped to mitigate the adverse health consequences of the debt crisis.
• The findings highlight the importance of social safety nets during economic downturns.