Health Infrastructure and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

In this study, we examine the effect of health infrastructure on economic growth in 30 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries over the period 1990-2014. Using modern econometric techniques that account for cross-sectional dependence in panel data, we find that health infrastructure (measured by mortality rate) does not have robust impact on economic growth. Gross fixed capital formation, however, is positively associated with economic growth while labor force and polity variables exhibit significant association with economic growth. The results provide sufficient evidence that although capital investment is adequate, the labor force and political environment have not facilitated the health infrastructure in increasing the GDP per capita level in SSA.