Environmental Pollution and Health Expenditures: An Analysis For MINT Countries
Chapter from the book: Polat, M. (ed.) 2026. Modern Microeconomics: From Theory to Practice II.

Dilek Alma Savaş
Bitlis Eren University

Synopsis

The relationship between healthcare expenditures and environmental pollution is one of the important issues discussed today in the context of economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social welfare. Population growth, industrialization, rapid urbanization, increasing energy demand, and intensive use of natural resources accelerate environmental degradation, while ecological damage caused by air, water, and soil pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss has direct and indirect effects on human health. This study aims to empirically examine the relationship between environmental pollution, health expenditures, and economic growth in the MINT countries (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey) during the period of 2000-2023. According to empirical findings, GDP per capita increased health expenditures in all quantiles in a positive and statistically significant manner, and this effect strengthened towards the upper quantiles. The Load Capacity Factor (LCF), on the other hand, has negatively and significantly reduced health expenditures across the entire distribution; this reduction effect is stronger in lower quantiles and weaker in upper quantiles.

How to cite this book

Alma Savaş, D. (2026). Environmental Pollution and Health Expenditures: An Analysis For MINT Countries. In: Polat, M. (ed.), Modern Microeconomics: From Theory to Practice II. Özgür Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub1259.c5126

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Published

March 18, 2026

DOI