GDP, health expenditure, industrialization, education and environmental sustainability impact on child mortality: Evidence from G-7 countries

The child mortality rate for children under five years of age is a major problem worldwide. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors responsible for controlling the under-5 mortality rate in G-7 countries. The study utilized monthly time series data from 1971 to 2021 and employed Grossman’s health production function with Driscoll-Kraay’s standard error estimation approach for all statistical analyses. The results showed that economic expansion and the use of renewable energy contribute to the reduction of under-5 mortality rates in G-7 countries, whereas fossil fuels, industrialization, education, and unemployment contribute to the increase in mortality rates. The robust results also revealed that GDP, renewable energy, and education help mitigate under-5 mortality rates in G-7 countries. This analysis plays an essential role in helping G-7 countries reduce their under-5 mortality rates while considering environmental sustainability. Additionally, the required discussions and policy recommendations are also presented.