Environmental quality and life expectancy

Massidda, Carla

;Coi, Ester

2025-01-01

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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between environmental quality and life expectancy by reviewing the literature and conducting an empirical analysis of a panel of 166 countries over the period 2000–2022. Within the health production function framework, the analysis jointly considers CO₂ emissions, economic development, health expenditure, and institutional quality. The results reveal a nonlinear relationship between emissions and life expectancy: at low levels of pollution, emissions are associated with improved living conditions, while beyond a certain threshold, their negative health effects prevail. Moreover, economic development moderates this relationship, reducing and eventually reversing the positive impact of emissions in more advanced economies. These findings suggest that the environment–health nexus is strongly context-dependent and call for differentiated policy approaches.