Thesis Formatted for Grad Dept 5 4 2025

The thesis by John Ross Costa investigates the determinants of infant mortality rates in the United States, focusing on state-level data from 1991 to 2004. It examines the impact of various factors, particularly healthcare spending, income, education levels, and lifestyle choices on infant mortality. The study finds that higher healthcare spending does not consistently correlate with lower infant mortality rates and highlights the significance of socioeconomic factors such as income and education. The research also addresses potential endogeneity issues in healthcare spending and suggests that conservative political policies may contribute to lower infant mortality rates. Overall, the findings align with previous studies while offering new insights into the complex relationships affecting infant health outcomes.