FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN NIGERIA
- Rasaki Stephen Dauda; Olusola Joel Oyeleke; Olufemi Gbenga Onatunji
- ( paper pages. 213 - 235 )
Abstract
This study examined
the effect of fiscal sustainability on health outcomes in Nigeria, over the
period 1980-2020. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modelling approach
was employed for data analysis with the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS)
and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) techniques used for robustness
and sensitivity checks, respectively. The findings showed that debt-to-GDP and
debt-to-exports depressed life expectancy while their impacts on infant
mortality were positive and statistically significant. Debt service-to-revenue
ratio had a significant negative effect on life expectancy but a positive
insignificant impact on infant mortality. The robustness checks results, using the
FMOLS and DOLS techniques were consistent with the findings of the ARDL
approach. It is therefore evident that fiscal deficit is a threat to health
outcomes in Nigeria. Therefore, to address this problem, the Nigerian
government should reduce her borrowing, boost economic growth, invest in human
capital, and ensure moderate population growth.
Citation
Rasaki Stephen Dauda; Olusola Joel Oyeleke; Olufemi Gbenga Onatunji.
2023.
"FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN NIGERIA"
The Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies,
65 (2): 213 - 235.
JEL Classification
E62, H68, I15
