Air quality and aging: comparative evidence from high and low pollution economies

This study investigates the dynamic relationship between air quality and life expectancy in two structurally distinct economies, India and Japan, over the period 1995 to 2023. Drawing on annual data from the World Bank and the World Health Organization, the analysis employs Vector Autoregression and Vector Error Correction Models to explore both short- and long-run effects, supplemented by Johansen cointegration and Granger causality tests. The results reveal that air pollution, particularly PM2.5 concentrations, significantly reduces life expectancy in India, whereas in Japan, public health investment plays a more critical role in shaping longevity outcomes. The impact of GDP per capita on life expectancy appears mixed across both countries. Evidence of long-term cointegration underscores the importance of sustained environmental policies and public health spending in enhancing population health. This study offers novel insights by providing a comparative econometric analysis of aging and air quality in the context of high- and low-pollution economies, contributing to the global discourse on sustainable health and environmental policy.