Institutional quality and health outcomes: evidence from the EU countries

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of the quality of economic institutions on health outcomes for the E.U. countries from 2000 to 2018. Using data from the World Bank and the Fraser Institute, the paper uses fixed effects and random effects models to investigate the relationship between institutional quality and health. The results suggest that an improvement in the quality of economic institutions has a favourable effect on health. Specifically, the results highlight that an efficient legal system, a stable macroeconomic environment, and fewer regulations improve health outcomes in the E.U. countries. The paper also finds that higher per capita income, increase in education, and faster urbanization enhance health outcomes.