Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.17818/EMIP/2025/19
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH STATUS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES: DYNAMIC PANEL MODELS
Blanka Škrabić Perić
orcid.org/0000-0002-7448-3821
; University of Split, Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism
*
Lana Kordić
; University of Split, Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism
Josip Cikojević
; Global Offshore Engineering
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
This paper examines the influence of socioeconomic variables, health system characteristics, environmental conditions and lifestyle on health status in the European Union countries using dynamic panel data models. The results confirm the importance of all groups of variables. GDP per capita, private health expenditure, unemployment, use of drinking water services, alcohol consumption and smoking are statistically significant and have the expected sign. The share of highly skilled labor force in the total labor force, per capita health expenditure, public health expenditure and CO2 emissions have statistically significant effects, but their sign is unexpected. The negative impact of public health expenditure indicates the need for economic evaluations in decision-making, along with microeconomic supply-side reforms to increase efficiency. On the other hand, the significant impact of alcohol consumption and smoking requires a multidisciplinary approach to promote and support healthy lifestyles with a focus on strengthening primary health care.
Keywords
health status; dynamic panel data models; socioeconomic indicators; health system; environment; lifestyle
Hrčak ID:
339605
URI
Publication date:
25.11.2025.
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