Increasing the ecological footprint significantly reduces life expectancy and increases infant mortality rates in Ethiopia

This study aims to determine the effects of environmental degradation, proxied by the ecological footprint, on human health outcomes, particularly life expectancy and infant mortality, in Ethiopia. Using annual data for the period between 1980 and 2023, the study utilized long-run cointegration techniques: fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), canonical cointegration regression (CCR), and Toda‒Yamamoto Granger causality. The results show a statistical association where a 1% increase in the ecological footprint is associated with a 0.162% increase in the infant mortality rate, and a 0.0089% reduction in life expectancy, suggesting a potential correlation between environmental pressure and health outcomes. Conversely, economic growth (0.43% increase in life expectancy per 1% increase in GDP) and public health expenditures (0.799% increase in life expectancy per 1% increase in spending) are positive long-term determinants. Bidirectional causality exists between health outcomes, economic growth, and environmental degradation. This study suggests that, pending further verification of causal mechanisms, policymakers may consider integrated strategies that simultaneously address environmental sustainability and public health investments.