Digitalization, income inequality, and public health: Evidence from developing countries

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Digital Transformation

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted global public health needs and the demand for accessible healthcare.
• Digitalization's role in public health, particularly in developing countries, requires further investigation.
• Understanding the interplay between digitalization, income inequality, and public health is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of digitalization on public health in 81 developing countries.
• To explore the mediating role of income inequality in the relationship between digitalization and public health.
• To provide evidence-based insights for leveraging digitalization to improve global health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Panel data analysis of 81 developing countries from 2002 to 2019.
• Robustness tests to validate findings.
• Heterogeneity analysis based on geographic location and income level.
• Mechanism analysis to identify the role of income inequality.

Main Results:

• Digitalization demonstrates a significant positive effect on public health in developing countries.
• The positive impact of digitalization on public health is most pronounced in African and middle-income nations.
• Digitalization enhances public health by effectively reducing income inequality.

Conclusions:

• Digitalization is a key driver for improving public health in developing economies.
• Addressing income inequality through digitalization can be a strategic pathway to better public health.
• The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to harness digital advancements for public health improvement.