Achieving sustainable development through electrification: A non-linear analysis of electrification and health vulnerability in developing countries

Reliable access to electricity is widely regarded as a cornerstone of sustainable development and improved people’s health. However, its health implications remain far more complex than commonly assumed. This study investigates the non-linear impact of electrification on health vulnerability in the group of 75 developing countries from 1990 to 2024. The empirical results were estimated using multiple econometric techniques, such as Panel Quantile Regression, Feasible Generalized Least Squares, and Driscoll-Kraay Standard Error Regression to account for unobserved heterogeneity and dynamic effects. Most of these techniques proposed an inverted U-shaped pattern between electrification and health vulnerability, which showed that increased electrification access decline health vulnerability. Additionally, this study also found that Burundi, Chad, South-Sudan, and Congo experienced insufficient electrification access, which increased health vulnerability. Furthermore, urbanization and industrialization reduced health vulnerability by improving infrastructure, enhancing employment opportunities, and increasing access to healthcare services. In contrast, gross capital formation increased health vulnerability by accelerating industrial activities and contributing to environmental pollution. The school education had observed mixed effect on health vulnerability due to heterogeneity across different quantiles, resulting from the variation in returns to education. These findings suggest that improving access to electrification, particularly in lower income developing countries, remains a crucial step toward mitigating health vulnerability.