Is Financial Inclusion a Determinant of Life Expectancy? Evidence from West African Region

Abstract

This study is a contribution to the debate on the significance of financial inclusion with much emphasis on its impacts on human life span. The sample used for the analyses consisted of 14 West African countries over the period 2010 and 2018. The study employed a dynamic 2-Step System GMM approach, and under different model specifications, control for public and private health expenditure, food production quality, population, access to electricity, and the number of people practicing open defecation. The estimated results, among others, showed considerable evidence of positive feedback of financial inclusion on human life span. As such, substantial improvement in the access to and use of financial services is key to a high life expectancy in the region.