The Best Public Health Policy: A Comparative Analysis

When evaluating public health policies, a key outcome measure is life expectancy (LE). Often, high-income countries have better health outcomes compared to middle and low-income nations. Therefore, to identify the best public health policy, we will focus on high-income countries as our primary comparison.

Comparative Analysis of Life Expectancy at Birth Among High-Income Nations

When comparing life expectancy at birth among three major groups of high-income nations—Western Europe, the US, and Japan—there are only slight variations. This suggests that while differences exist, they are not significant enough to explain any major distinctions among these regions.

Japan tops the list with the highest life expectancy, followed by Western Europe and the US. This ranking has led to a growing gap over time between Japan/Western Europe and the US.

Exploring Public Expenditures and Their Impact on Life Expectancy

A potential explanation for these differences could lie in the public expenditures for social protection and healthcare. According to data from the OECD, public spending on old-age and survivors cash benefits in 2017 was significantly higher in Japan at 15.6% of GDP, compared to the US at 7.1% and Germany (a proxy for Western Europe) at 10.2%.

Total health expenditures in 2019 were similarly higher for Japan (11.1% of GDP) compared to the US (17%) and Germany (11.7%). However, the correlation between public spending on old-age benefits and life expectancy at age 65 is weak, indicating that this factor alone cannot fully explain the differences observed.

Identifying Core Risk Factors for Public Health

also presents risk factors for different countries and age groups. At age 65–69, the most important risk factors in terms of Years of Life Lost (YLL) are tobacco use, hypertension, dietary risks, and high BMI. In these categories, Japan sees the best outcomes, followed by Western Europe and the worst in the US.

Tobacco use, for instance, is largely influenced by the regulatory measures imposed on the tobacco industry, such as taxation. Hypertension rates are affected by the sodium content in food, which is regulated by the food industry. Similarly, dietary risks and the rate of high BMI are also influenced by such regulations, along with additional policies and cultural patterns.

It is important to note that while all these factors are affected by various circumstances, the overall picture remains consistent: Japan has the most favorable public health policy results.

Conclusion

The analysis suggests that the best public health policy can be found in Japan, where comprehensive public spending on healthcare and social protection, combined with effective risk factor mitigation, contributes to high life expectancy. This highlights the importance of a multi-faceted approach to public health policy, encompassing both financial investment and regulatory measures.

Keywords

Public Health Policy, Life Expectancy, Effective Healthcare