Can financial inclusion offset the effects of pollution on life expectancy and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa?

Abstract

This paper examines the role of access to formal financial services in reducing the long-term effects of pollution on life expectancy and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The empirical evidence is based on the Generalized Method of Moments on data collected from 21 sub-Saharan African countries. The results show that, in the short term, financial inclusion through the multiplication of banking branches improves life expectancy and reduces mortality. In the long term, the effects of the pollution process in sub-Saharan Africa can be reduced and improved respectively on life expectancy and mortality through the promotion of financial inclusion defined by access to account creation facilities and the availability of banking branches.