A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Health in Romania Augmented with Computer Vision

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the health status in Romania at regional NUTS3 level together with its influential socio-economic factors. Apart from statistical and classical econometrics which are being used in most studies, a spatial analysis has been conducted in order to determine possible similarities and dissimilarities among regions, accounting for the fact that events taking place in a specific area are interrelated with the events in the neighboring regions. The negative distribution of the dependent variable, life expectancy, involves the use of Quantile Spatial Autoregressive Model which also allows to observe the socio-economic and environmental factor influences in different parts of health status proxy distribution. The analysis has led to the conclusion that greater the gaps between rich and poor, or greater the difference between less versus better educated, the greater the differences in health status and life expectancy are. Hence a need for policies designed to reduce territorial health disparities has been identified across Romania’s counties. Moreover, Computer Vision and Deep Learning techniques have been used in order to showcase data collection for urban green spaces variables given that more than half of the globe population is living in urban areas and urban greenery has a high positive influence on health. Using Deep Learning on this particular matter together with the Quantile Spatial Autoregressive Model is an innovative approach that has the main aim of improving the classical econometric modelling.