Is Globalization Inclusive in Health Outcomes?—Experience of African Countries

This paper empirically examines the impact of globalization on the health status of the African countries by using panel data. Unlike previous studies, we have attempted to use three different dimensions of globalization and estimate their impact on health status. We also introduced an initial level of human development and income status as control variables and found them playing an important role. The fixed effects panel data analysis shows that globalization has a positive impact on the health status measured by infant mortality rate and life expectancy. Out of economic, social and political dimensions of the globalization, the first one has the highest influence on the health. Moreover, the pace of health improvement is faster or the same in low human development and low-income countries compared to that in medium human development and middle-income countries.