Measurement of a Country's Health: Can We Depend on Reported Values of the Infant Mortality Rate?

43 Pages Posted: 28 May 2014 Last revised: 8 Jun 2015

See all articles by Robert M Gonzalez

Robert M Gonzalez

Georgia Institute of Technology - School of Economics

Donna B. Gilleskie

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill - Department of Economics

Date Written: June 5, 2015

Abstract

Economists often rely on the infant mortality rate as an indicator of a country's health. Despite arguments about its relevance, uniform measurement of infant mortality is necessary. Using important socioeconomic indicators, we develop a method to adjust country-specific reported infant mortality figures that may misrepresent development within a country. We conclude that an "augmented" measure of mortality that includes both infant and late fetal deaths should be considered when assessing levels of social welfare in a country. Also, mortality statistics that exhibit a substantially high ratio of late fetal to early neonatal deaths should be more closely scrutinized.

Keywords: health measurement, infant mortality rate, socioeconomic development

JEL Classification: I15, I18, J13, O57

Suggested Citation

Gonzalez, Robert M and Gilleskie, Donna B., Measurement of a Country's Health: Can We Depend on Reported Values of the Infant Mortality Rate? (June 5, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2442565 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2442565

Robert M Gonzalez (Contact Author)

Georgia Institute of Technology - School of Economics ( email )

217 Habersham
Atlanta, GA 30332
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.robertmgonzalez.com

Donna B. Gilleskie

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill - Department of Economics ( email )

Chapel Hill, NC 27599
United States

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