Macroeconomic conditions, environmental risks, and demographic change are among the major determinants of public health. However, comparative studies jointly examining these three factors in relation to mortality across OECD countries remain limited. This study aims to analyse the effects of GDP per capita, PM2.5 exposure, and changes in the proportion of the elderly population on age- and sex-specific mortality. For this purpose, panel data from 14 OECD countries covering the period 2001–2020 were analysed. A fixed-effects model was adopted, and Driscoll–Kraay robust standard errors were used to address autocorrelation, heteroskedasticity, and cross-sectional dependence. The findings show that GDP per capita and PM2.5 exposure have positive and statistically significant effects on mortality. In contrast, the difference in the elderly population variable was not statistically significant. The results highlight the importance of addressing environmental sustainability and public health policies in an integrated manner.
Merve Kişi (Wed,) studied this question.