JDE (Journal of Developing Economies)
Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025)

Can Public Health Spending Mitigate the Impact of CO2 Emissions on Child Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa SSA?

Ibrahim Iliyasu (Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Katsina State, Nigeria)
Suleman Lawal Gambo (Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Katsina State, Nigeria)
Abubakar Sabitu (Department of Economics and Development Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, Nigeria)



Article Info

Publish Date
08 Dec 2025

Abstract

Objective: This study aligns with the actualisation of SDGs targets 3.2, 11.6, 13.3 and 17.1 in Sub-Saharan Africa and contributes to the contemporary discourse on health-environment-public policy dynamics. Specifically, it examines the individual and interactive effect of carbon dioxide emission and per capita public health spending on child mortality. Methods:  Data on 44 SSA countries over the years 2000-2020 was analysed using a set of Panel estimation techniques (pool OLS, FE and 2-step difference GMM). Findings: The findings suggested that CO2 emissions have significant increasing impact on “infant and under-five mortality rates”; while, higher per capita public health spending decrease the level of infant and under-five mortality rates. The interaction term indicates that per capita public health spending can dampen the adverse impact of C02 emissions on infant and under-five mortality rates. Originality/Value: evidence suggested that increase in per capita public health spending amid rising CO2emissions works to neutralise the adverse impact of CO2 emissions on “infant and under-five mortality rates. Thus, the study contributes to integrating health-environment-public policy literature. Practical/Policy implication: The study provides insight for the imperative of achieving global CO2 emissions reduction target and increasing average per capita public health spending in SSA.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JDE

Publisher

Subject

Description

The Journal of Developing Economies (JDE) is a journal published by the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Airlangga University with the ISSN 2541-1012 (print version) and 2528-2018 (online version). This journal is published every 6 months, June and December, through a ...