Abstract:

This study analyzes the effects information and communications technology (ICTs) have had on health outcomes on Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS countries), and Turkey both on a panel and country basis using data from the period 1990 to 2018. The study has created three models. According to the general findings obtained for the panel, the error correction coefficients of the models other than Model II are negative and statistically significant. Based on the variables of income level, number of physicians, education level, and CO2 emissions used in Model I, the number of physicians and education level are seen to negatively affect life expectancy both in the short and long terms, contrary to theoretical expectations, while income level positively and CO2 emissions negatively affect life expectancy. The number of mobile users represents ICTs and negatively affects life expectancy both in the long and short term. Model III includes number of Internet subscribers, and all variables in this model except number of physicians support theoretical expectations. Accordingly, education and income levels have positive effects, and CO2 emissions have a negative effect. The number of Internet subscribers has both long- and short-term negative effects. When evaluating the findings according to country groups, the variable of income level positively and CO2 emissions negatively affect life expectancy in all countries. The variable of number of physicians has a negative value in all models and countries except for China in Model II. Similarly, the variable of education level generally has a negative impact in all models except Model III. All the ICT variables have negative values and negatively affect life expectancy.

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