Dependency, democracy, and infant mortality: a quantitative, cross-national analysis of less developed countries

Abstract

This study presents quantitative, sociological models designed to account for cross-national variation in infant mortality rates. We consider variables linked to four different theoretical perspectives: the economic modernization, the social modernization, the political modernization, and the dependency perspectives. The study is based on a panel regression analysis of a sample of fifty-nine developing countries. Our preliminary analysis based on additive models replicates prior studies to the extent that we find that indicators linked to economic and social modernization have beneficial effects on infant mortality. We also find support for hypotheses derived from the dependency perspective suggesting that multinational corporate penetration fosters higher levels of infant mortality. Subsequent analysis incorporating interaction effects suggest that the level of political democracy conditions the effects of dependency relationships based upon exports, investments from multinational corporations, and international lending institutions. Transnational economic linkages associated with exports, multinational corporations, and international lending institutions adversely affect infant mortality more strongly at lower levels of democracy than at higher levels of democracy; that is intranational, political factors interact with the international, economic forces to affect infant mortality. We conclude with some brief policy recommendations and suggestions for the direction of future research.3

Debt, Structural Adjustment, and Non-Governmental Organizations: A Cross-National Analysis of Maternal Mortality

“…It has been used previously by Shandra, London, and Williamson (2003), Bradshaw and Schafer (2000), Schafer (1999), and Buchman (1996). This index is the sum of four variables which include (1) the number of debt renegotiations between a country and an international financial body, (2) the number of debt restructurings experienced by an indebted nation, (3) the number of times a country utilized the International Monetary Fund Extended Fund Facility, and (4) the total International Monetary Fund loans received by a country as a percentage of its allocated quota.…”

Electoral Democracy and Human Development

“…This optimistic assessment has been strongly challenged in a series of recent studies (Doces 2008;Gauri & Khaleghian 2002;Hallerod et al 2013;Jacobsen 2015;Houweling et al 2005;Miller 2016;Nelson 2007;Ramos & Tournillon 2014;Ross 2006;Rothstein 2015;Shandra 2004). These scholars call attention to potential problems of causal identification arising from highly trended variables, sample bias, and non-robustness in the relationship of interest.…”

The enduring influence of institutions on universal health coverage: An empirical investigation of 62 former colonies

“…Similarly, Barlow (2018) documents how trade liberalization -as promoted by the WTO, IMF, and World Bank -may reduce infant mortality in low -and middle-income countries but only in contexts where the existing institutional arrangements can translate the economic benefits of trade into pro-poor growth. More work is needed to understand how national-level institutions (such as death registration, but also female political representation, among many others) (Quamruzzaman and Lange 2016;Szreter 2007) both create the conditions for improvements in health and interact with other institutions and organizations in pursuing these goals (Shandra et al 2004). …”