Lower Infant Mortality Rates Linked to State & Local Government Spending Increases For Non-Health Care Social Services

States and local government spending increases to non-health care social services, such as public health, housing, parks/recreation, and solid waste management were associated with lower infant mortality rates. State and local governments spend, on average, $9.03 per person per year. A $0.30 per-person increase to environment and housing spending was associated with a decrease of 0.03 deaths per 1,000 live births. A $0.73 per-person increase in social services spending was associated with a decrease of 0.02 deaths per 1,000 live births. The researchers investigating the association concluded that investments . . .