The Effects of Country's Socioeconomic Status on its Citizens' Health

Abstract

This research examines the relationship between the economic status of countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and health outcomes by analyzing the relationship between leading economic factors, such as GDP per capita, income, and educational attainment, and health outcomes, such as life expectancy, mortality rate, obesity rate, and opioid overdose rate. Using data from 2016 to 2022, I employ linear regression methods to evaluate the relationship between economic factors and health outcomes. I find that income has the most pronounced impact on health outcomes, positively affecting life expectancy and decreasing preventable and treatable mortality. Education has some positive effects on preventable mortality rates and obesity rates. However, the impact of education becomes negligible after a certain level. In contrast, GDP per capita has a minimal impact on all health outcomes. My findings suggest that health outcomes in OECD countries can be significantly enhanced by implementing policies prioritizing raising individual income levels. Specifically, increasing individualized income directly and positively impacts health outcomes more than initiatives that only increase the nation’s total income.