Public Health Emergencies and Economic Development

A special issue of Economies (ISSN 2227-7099). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Economics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 3557

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Department of Public Health Sciences, 509 Edwards Hall, Clemson University South Carolina, Clemson, SC 29631, USA
Interests: access and healthcare for disadvantaged populations; insurance, utilization of healthcare services, and health outcomes; tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug control policy; obesity, mental health, child health; built environment and health, global health; statistical modelling, GIS, and simulation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Economies seeks commentaries, original research, short reports, and reviews on the relationships between public health emergencies and economic development. Over the past few years, we have seen unprecedented interruptions and challenges for local economies, supply chains, and international trade. Confinement measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to address its aftermath have placed tremendous pressure on labor markets, the production of goods and services, healthcare systems, and non-profit operations, to name a few. While coronavirus does not discriminate, certain socio-economic and racial groups have been affected disproportionally. The loss of employment or a wage earner could result in school dropouts, child labor, or dependency on social welfare. While COVID-19 is arguably no longer a public health emergency, so much effort including research on various aspects of public health and local economies is still needed.

Significant emerging research opportunities, including new data, economic recovery efforts, and novel production models, have originated from the pandemic. Research questions on economic disparities, inequality, and the consequences of public health emergencies are of particular interest. Research published in this Special Issue will fill the gap of literature on the interconnectedness between public health emergencies and economic development. Study findings are envisioned to aid local governments in developing effective recovery economic and health policies.

Dr. Khoa Truong
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • public health emergencies, healthcare, healthcare workforce, healthcare employment
  • economic development, community development, integrated development
  • health and human capital, health and human resources, medical technology and economic growth
  • global health and trade, COVID-19, low-income, minority health

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 1206 KiB  
Article
Falling Short on Long-Term Care Efficiency Change? A Non-Parametric Approach
by Augusto Carlos Mercadier, Irene Belmonte-Martín and Lidia Ortiz
Economies 2024, 12(12), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12120341 - 12 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
The European Commission’s 2015 aging report forecasts a substantial increase in public spending on Long-Term Care (LTC) for OECD countries by 2060, posing significant fiscal challenges. This study aims to assess the efficiency and productivity of the LTC sector from 2010 to 2019 [...] Read more.
The European Commission’s 2015 aging report forecasts a substantial increase in public spending on Long-Term Care (LTC) for OECD countries by 2060, posing significant fiscal challenges. This study aims to assess the efficiency and productivity of the LTC sector from 2010 to 2019 and explore whether efficiency gains can alleviate these fiscal pressures. Using a non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model, combined with Tobit regression, we estimate the efficiency of OECD countries and examine the role of decentralization in shaping performance outcomes. The findings reveal that, on average, countries operate at 94% efficiency, with modest productivity growth. However, technical inefficiencies persist, especially in unitary countries, while federal countries, though initially less efficient, show greater improvements over time. Despite these gains, the current efficiency levels are insufficient to counterbalance the projected increase in LTC demand. Policymakers should prioritize reforms that enhance efficiency through decentralization, promoting accountability and competition as mechanisms to sustain the LTC system in the face of demographic shifts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Emergencies and Economic Development)
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14 pages, 312 KiB  
Article
Dynamics of Human Fertility, Environmental Pollution, and Socio-Economic Factors in Aral Sea Basin
by Olimjon Saidmamatov, Yuldoshboy Sobirov, Sardorbek Makhmudov, Peter Marty, Shahnoza Yusupova, Ergash Ibadullaev and Dilnavoz Toshnazarova
Economies 2024, 12(10), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12100272 - 7 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1700
Abstract
One of the worst natural, economic, and social catastrophes caused by human activity is the Aral Sea crisis in Central Asia. The Aral Sea’s desiccation, which has an impact on the region’s overall sustainable development, human welfare, security, and survival, is what led [...] Read more.
One of the worst natural, economic, and social catastrophes caused by human activity is the Aral Sea crisis in Central Asia. The Aral Sea’s desiccation, which has an impact on the region’s overall sustainable development, human welfare, security, and survival, is what led to the problem. This study assesses the effects of economic expansion, population ageing, life expectancy, internet usage, and greenhouse gas emissions on the fertility rate in the countries that made up the Aral Sea basin between 1990 and 2021. Several econometric techniques were used in this study, including Pooled OLS (Ordinary Least Squares) with the Driscoll–Kraay estimating method, FMOLS (Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square), and DOLS (Dynamic Ordinary Least Square). Additionally, we used the Hurlin and Dumitrescu non-cause tests to verify the causal links between the variables. The empirical findings verify that a decrease in the fertility rate among women in the nations surrounding the Aral Sea occurs when the population of a certain age (women aged 15–64 as a percentage of the total population) grows and life expectancy rises. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) also have an adverse effect on reproductive rates. Conversely, the region’s fertility rate may rise as a result of increased internet usage and economic growth. Furthermore, this study indicates that certain variables—aside from greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)—have a causal relationship with the fertility rate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Emergencies and Economic Development)
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