Title: An instrumental variables analysis of the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in low- and middle-income countries

Authors: Juan J. DelaCruz

Addresses: Department of Economics & Business Administration, Lehman College – The City University of New York, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West, Carman Hall 379, Bronx, NY 10468, USA

Abstract: In the absence of substantial differences in the growth rates of per capita GDP across countries, what are the factors explaining the rapid spread of the HIV infection within a nation? This is an empirical question that needs to be explained. In order to elucidate the correlation between HIV prevalence and economic growth in a sample of 74 low- and middle-income countries, circumcision as well as ethnic diversity can be used as the main instruments to produce estimates of the effect of HIV prevalence on the growth rate of real GDP per capita that are not affected by the presence of simultaneity.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; economic growth; circumcision; ethnic diversity; Latin America; Muslim countries; HIV infection; AIDS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBHR.2009.024228

International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research, 2009 Vol.1 No.2, pp.173 - 199

Published online: 30 Mar 2009 *

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