Factors affecting infant mortality rates: evidence from cross–sectional data

Abstract

This paper empirically tests for factors affecting infant mortality rates. Based on a crosssectional model (covering 117 countries for the year 1993) that corrects for heteroscedasticity, the results show that fertility rates, female participation in the labour force, per capita GNP, and female literacy rates significantly affect infant mortality rates. Surprisingly, government expenditure on health–care, as a percentage of GNP, does not play a major role in determining infant mortality rates.