Life expectancy and environment in the Mediterranean area: statistical relationships and spurious correlations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71014/sieds.v80i4.587Abstract
Several interrelated factors are behind the good health and life expectancy of local populations. Today, large datasets are available at UN level to analyse the relationships between economic, social and environmental factors. All dimensions that are now considered essential for a sound assessment of the sustainability of national development paths.
Using a clustering analysis, this study focuses on the Mediterranean area to highlight how variations in life expectancy across the region are shaped by factors such as economic conditions, healthcare systems and political stability of the countries, rather than climate or physical geography alone. The application of multivariate techniques allows evaluating the multiple relationship among the indicators nowadays available in the WB statistical databases, taking into account the limitations in the data while their correlations, eventual connections or spurious correlations.
The paper highlights further data and development needed in the future. Based on present results, some useful conclusions for policy are drowned.
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