Cross-country estimations of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to empirically analyze the relationship between income and pollution have generally assumed a common structure for all countries. Since this latter feature is not supported by economic theory, this paper uses the Random Coefficient Model proposed by Swamy (1970) and empirically estimates EKCs for sulfur dioxide with specific tur...

We undertook a systematic review of studies assessing the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and measured obesity in low- and middle-income countries (defined by the World Bank as countries with per capita income up to US$12,275) among children, men and women. The evidence on the subject has grown significantly since an earlier influential review was published in 2004. We find that ...

BACKGROUND Cost-effectiveness analysis can guide policymakers in resource allocation decisions. It assesses whether the health gains offered by an intervention are large enough relative to any additional costs to warrant adoption. When there are constraints on the health care system's budget or ability to increase expenditures, additional costs imposed by interventions have an "opportunity cost...

BACKGROUND No systematic attempt has been made to calculate the costs of scaling up mental health services in low- and middle-income countries. AIMS To estimate the expenditures needed to scale up the delivery of an essential mental healthcare package over a 10-year period (2006-2015). METHOD A core package was defined, comprising pharmacological and/or psychosocial treatment of schizophren...

Governance is a way of exercising power in economic and social resource management of a country. Good governance criteria have different weights and relation with regard to the conditions and information of any country. This study is a descriptive survey and has been carried out to calculate the coefficients and weights of each indicator of good governance in Mena countries and identification o...

Introduction All nations are striving for development. Economic development is one of the main parts of development process, but not all of it. Populations health is one of the main factors of economic development, and child’s mortality is one of the main factors of population health status. The aim of this study is investigating the role of socioeconomic disparties in under 5 mortality in East...