Do Environmental Degradation, ICT, Health Expenditure, and Institutional Quality Affect Life Expectancy?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Economics

Background:

• Life expectancy in China is influenced by environmental, technological, and institutional factors.
• Air pollution (CO2 emissions) poses a significant threat to public health, increasing disease burden.
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) expansion, increased health expenditure, and strong institutional quality are key determinants of longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of air pollution (CO2 emissions), ICT, health expenditure, and institutional quality on life expectancy in China.
• To analyze the long-run and short-run effects of these factors on life expectancy.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for enhancing life expectancy in China.

Main Methods:

• Unit root tests (Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Phillips-Perron) to assess stationarity.
• Cointegration tests to identify long-run relationships.
• Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model for estimation.
• Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) for robustness checks.

Main Results:

• CO2 emissions have a statistically significant negative effect on life expectancy.
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) positively impacts life expectancy.
• Increased health expenditure is associated with higher life expectancy.
• Strong institutional quality demonstrates a positive correlation with increased longevity.

Conclusions:

• Reducing CO2 emissions through environmental regulations and renewable energy promotion is crucial.
• Expanding ICT infrastructure and digital health literacy can improve healthcare access.
• Increasing health expenditure and investing in preventive care are vital for better health outcomes.
• Strengthening institutional quality and governance enhances healthcare efficiency and equity.