Multifaceted dynamics of health expenditure in the European Union: macroeconomic, environmental, social and medical determinants
8 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Engineering, Politehnica University Timisoara
- 2Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics and Informatics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies
- 3Faculty of Economics, University "1 Decembrie 1918" of Alba Iulia
- 4Research and Innovation Institute, Kazimieras Simonavičius University
- 5Faculty of Science and Arts, Valahia University of Targoviste
- 6Women Researchers Council, Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC)
- 7Faculty of Business and Tourism, Bucharest University of Economic Studies
- 8Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Abstract
This study explores the impact of a multidimensional mix of factors—macroeconomic, environmental, social and medical on the annual variation of the current health expenditure as a share of GDP of the European Union countries between 2000 and 2022. A comprehensive investigation was conducted through static and dynamic panel regression techniques to ascertain the extent to which spending on health is influenced by economic growth, CO2 emissions, life expectancy, urbanization, hospital beds and physicians. The results show a negative association between GDP growth and the health expenditure to GDP ratio, which a decomposition analysis suggests largely reflects a mechanical denominator effect, while the residual, non-mechanical relationship between economic growth and health spending appearing positive. Furthermore, the analysis identifies a negative association between annual variations in CO2 emissions and health spending dynamics, which may reflect interactions between environmental policies and healthcare financing. Concurrently, positive annual variations in life expectancy growth signal a marginal decrease in health expenditure variations, reflecting enhanced preventive strategies. Urbanization increases the burden on healthcare spending primarily by intensifying service demand. Hospital beds and physicians exert upward pressure on the health sector’s direct costs. The findings indicate several determinants that can inform public policies aimed at achieving an efficient and sustainable level of health expenditure.
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BibTeX
@article{hint2026multifaceted,
title = {{Multifaceted dynamics of health expenditure in the European Union: macroeconomic, environmental, social and medical determinants}},
author = {Mihaela (Stefan) Hint and Mihai Daniel Roman and Adela Socol and Lidija Kraujalienė and Alina Constantinescu and Alina Cristina Nuta and Helga Marija Kauzonė and Andreea Marin-Pantelescu and Razvan-Cosmin Petca},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1928167},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1928167/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Multifaceted dynamics of health expenditure in the European Union: macroeconomic, environmental, social and medical determinants
AU - Mihaela (Stefan) Hint
AU - Mihai Daniel Roman
AU - Adela Socol
AU - Lidija Kraujalienė
AU - Alina Constantinescu
AU - Alina Cristina Nuta
AU - Helga Marija Kauzonė
AU - Andreea Marin-Pantelescu
AU - Razvan-Cosmin Petca
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1928167
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1928167/full
AB - This study explores the impact of a multidimensional mix of factors—macroeconomic, environmental, social and medical on the annual variation of the current health expenditure as a share of GDP of the European Union countries between 2000 and 2022. A comprehensive investigation was conducted through static and dynamic panel regression techniques to ascertain the extent to which spending on health is influenced by economic growth, CO2 emissions, life expectancy, urbanization, hospital beds and physicians. The results show a negative association between GDP growth and the health expenditure to GDP ratio, which a decomposition analysis suggests largely reflects a mechanical denominator effect, while the residual, non-mechanical relationship between economic growth and health spending appearing positive. Furthermore, the analysis identifies a negative association between annual variations in CO2 emissions and health spending dynamics, which may reflect interactions between environmental policies and healthcare financing. Concurrently, positive annual variations in life expectancy growth signal a marginal decrease in health expenditure variations, reflecting enhanced preventive strategies. Urbanization increases the burden on healthcare spending primarily by intensifying service demand. Hospital beds and physicians exert upward pressure on the health sector’s direct costs. The findings indicate several determinants that can inform public policies aimed at achieving an efficient and sustainable level of health expenditure.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -