Gender health inequalities and economic productivity in OECD countries

Abstract

The presented study deals with the relations between the economic life of developed countries and the health of women and men. The primary objective of the presented study was to assess the relations between gender health inequalities and economic productivity in a sample of OECD countries, with a focus on the classification of their health care systems. Analyses included selected causes of mortality as health variables, each in a specification of men and women, and economic productivity represented by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person employed (in USD at current prices). The health care systems were represented by multiple insurance model (MI), national health system (NHS) and single payer model (SPM). The analysed data were collected from OECD databases for the period from 2011 to 2016. The analytical processing was carried out by applying descriptive analysis, regression analysis examining the effects of gender inequalities in health on economic productivity, and relationship analysis. Based on the findings, it can be stated that the vast majority of gender inequalities in health is significant. Also, it has been confirmed that gender inequalities in health have an effect on economic productivity. In general (with a few exceptions), it can be concluded that if gender inequalities in health are reduced, economic productivity is expected to increase. From the point of view of the analysed relations, the NHS health care system can be considered the most positive.