Page 11 - GHES-3-1

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Energy consumption and life expectancy in West Africa

corruption has two distinct forms: corruption with and Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,
without theft. In corruption without theft, a healthcare Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo.
provider charges a government-approved fee for medical Of these, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mauritania,
care and an additional fee (i.e., a bribe). The medical Nigeria, and Senegal are classified as lower-middle-income
officer retains the bribe and remits the approved fee to the countries. In this group of countries, Weitensfelder et al.
government treasury. This practice increases the cost of (2024) found that there is a correlation between renewable
medical services and decreases output. In corruption with energy and life expectancy and that this correlation is
theft, the medical service provider receives the prescribed higher in high-income groups than in other income groups.
medical fee but fails to remit it to the government treasury Therefore, investigating the impact of energy consumption
and keeps it for himself. This practice decreases the cost of on life expectancy without considering the differences in
medical services because the provider keeps all the money income levels of different countries can yield misleading
for himself. This practice tends to reduce the quality and results. Instead of categorizing countries based on income
efficiency of medical services. Thus, corruption without level, this study examined whether energy consumption
theft decreases the quantity of medical services, and and corruption affect life expectancy in lower-middle-
corruption with theft decreases the quality of medical income countries, in West Africa from 1981 to 2021 and
services. Both forms of corruption have a negative impact excluded high- and low-income countries. This study
on overall health outcomes, such as child mortality rates answered the following research questions. What is the
and life expectancy. impact of renewable energy on life expectancy in lower-
middle-income countries in West Africa? How do non-
Cross-country and country-specific studies have been
conducted to examine the connection between energy renewable energy and corruption affect life expectancy in
lower-middle-income countries in West Africa?
consumption and life expectancy in Africa. A few scholars
have also investigated the impact of corruption on life 2. Literature review
expectancy in country-specific studies. For example, in
a cross-country study, Weitensfelder et al. (2024) used 2.1. Theoretical literature
generalized additive and non-linear models to investigate The IEA (2020, p. 2) defines energy poverty as an “absence of
the effects of energy consumption, energy distribution, and sufficient choice in accessing adequate, affordable, reliable,
clean energy on life expectancy and found that per capita quality, safe, and environmentally sound energy services
energy consumption positively affects life expectancy. to support development.” It further defines energy poverty
Similarly, Sargentis et al. (2021a) showed that energy as the “lack of access to modern energy services, such as
production and consumption are positive indicators of electricity and clean cooking facilities, which do not cause
life expectancy. In a cluster of 16 West African countries, indoor air pollution.” Figure 1 presents the framework
Youssef et al. (2015) found that energy use positively for addressing the electricity access deficit in Africa and
affects health indicators. Similarly, Agbanike et al. (2019) identifies barriers to energy accessibility. The energy
found that life expectancy in Africa is negatively affected sector can transform economies (by improving access
by energy consumption. Akokuwebe & Adekanbi (2017) to healthcare facilities and, ultimately, life expectancy) if
examined how corruption impedes service delivery in these barriers are eliminated.
relation to the distribution of drugs and how it affects
mortality (12.7 deaths/1000 population) in Nigeria. Figure 2 presents the energy ladder proposed by
However, these studies have overlooked the impact of Choumert et al. (2017), which is a series of steps taken
differing levels of income or heterogeneity in income levels by households when transitioning from inefficient energy
on the ability of countries to transition to clean energy. sources (traditional/transition fuels) to efficient energy
Income level has been shown to be a major determinant sources (modern energy). Matinga et al. (2013) and
of energy consumption, which determines the standard of Nthabiseng et al. (2018) showed that modern energy use
living (Weitensfelder et al., 2024). Therefore, the impact improves healthcare, saves energy costs for healthcare
of energy consumption on life expectancy in low-income providers, and allows households and healthcare providers
countries may differ from that in high- and lower-middle- to engage in other activities by freeing up their time.
income countries, just as it differs between developing Therefore, as countries move up on the energy ladder, their
and developed countries. The 2019 World Bank Report life expectancy improves.
grouped countries into four categories according to Nthabiseng et al. (2018) found that households and
income level: high, upper-middle, lower-middle, and low- healthcare providers in developing countries use unclean
income countries. There are 16 countries in West Africa: energy sources and that energy users in Africa combine
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, two or more energy sources (i.e., traditional and modern)

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3518