Transportation-Induced Carbon Emissions Jeopardize Healthcare Logistics Sustainability: Toward a Healthier Today and a Better Tomorrow

Khalid Zaman, Muhammad Khalid Anser, Usama Awan, Wiwik Handayani, Hailan Salamun, Abdul Rashid Abdul Aziz, Mohd Khata Jabor and Kamalularifin Subari
Additional contact information
Khalid Zaman: Department of Economics, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan
Muhammad Khalid Anser: School of Public Administration, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710000, China
Usama Awan: Industrial Engineering and Management, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland
Wiwik Handayani: Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jawa Timur, Surabaya 60294, Indonesia
Hailan Salamun: Centre for Foundation and Continuing Education (PPAL), Department of Nationhood and Civilization, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Kuala Nerus 21300, Terengganu, Malaysia
Abdul Rashid Abdul Aziz: Faculty of Leadership and Management, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Mohd Khata Jabor: Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Kamalularifin Subari: Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai 81310, Johor, Malaysia

Logistics, 2022, vol. 6, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: Background: Logistics operations are considered essential for transporting commodities from one location to another, helping to promote global economic activity. On the other hand, its negative impact eclipses its positive impact, namely the rise in healthcare expenditures due to its ecological footprint. Globally, rising out-of-pocket health expenses result from logistic-induced carbon emissions, posing a danger to the long-term viability of healthcare. Methods: Based on this critical fact, this study examined the impact of logistics operations on healthcare costs by controlling for carbon emissions, fuel imports, and economic development across a large cross-section of 131 nations by using the Robust Least Squares Regression. Results: The findings demonstrate a U-shaped association between logistical operations and healthcare expenditures, i.e., if there is a 1% increase in logistics operations, healthcare expenditures decrease by −2.421% initially, while at later stages, healthcare costs would increase by 0.139%. On the other hand, increased fuel imports and economic growth due to logistics activities are increasing healthcare expenditures with an elasticity estimate of 0.087% and 0.147%, respectively. According to the forecasting predictions, logistics-induced carbon emissions, fuel imports, and economic expansion will increase healthcare expenses. Conclusions: A sustainable logistics operation is critical for strengthening healthcare infrastructure and meeting the global carbon neutrality goal.

Keywords: logistics performance; health expenditures; carbon emissions; fuel imports; economic growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L8 L80 L81 L86 L87 L9 L90 L91 L92 L93 L98 L99 M1 M10 M11 M16 M19 R4 R40 R41 R49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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