Life expectancy and economic growth: is there a connection between the dynamics of these indicators?

Abstract

Purpose: to identify the relationship between one of the most important characteristics of the quality of life of people – life expectancy at birth and the two spheres of human activity: economic (expressed in GRP growth) and environmental (expressed in terms of increased pollution). Discussion: аccording to the methodological provisions of the modern economic theory, economic growth is one of the priority tasks for the society development. At the same time, the term «economic growth» is usually understood as the growth of the country's GDP or an increase in the GRP of a certain region. However, supporters of the theory of sustainable development put in doubt the theoretical position that GDP growth results in the improvement in the quality of life of people in the long term. To achieve this goal, the authors used econometric methods. In particular, a fixed-effects model was built, the result of which clearly demonstrates that although there exists the statistically significant relationship between the GRP and the amount of pollution, on the one hand, and life expectancy, on the other hand, there is a small degree of influence of these factors on the dynamics of the life expectancy of domestic citizens. Economic growth results in urbanization, which leads to certain social problems in society. Results: results of the study confirm the position of the theorists of sustainable development of socio-ecological-economic systems that the GDP growth does not always lead to improving the quality of people's lives and solving social problems.