Open AccessThe Persistence of Suicides in G20 Countries between 1990 and 2017: an SPSM Approach to Three Generations of Unit Root Tests
Author(s) -
Izunna Anyikwa,
Nicolene Hamman,
Andrew Phiri
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
comparative economic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.244
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 2082-6737
pISSN - 1508-2008
DOI - 10.18778/1508-2008.24.17
Subject(s) - unit root , persistence (discontinuity) , root (linguistics) , corporate governance , unit (ring theory) , selection (genetic algorithm) , psychology , demographic economics , economics , econometrics , computer science , engineering , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics education , geotechnical engineering , finance , artificial intelligence
Suicides represent an encompassing measure of psychological wellbeing, emotional stability as well as life satisfaction, and they have been recently identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a major global health concern. The G20 countries represent the powerhouse of global economic governance and hence possess the ability to influence the direction of global suicide rates. In applying the sequential panel selection method (SPSM) to three generations of unit root testing procedures, the study investigates the integration properties of suicides in G20 countries between 1990–2017. The results obtained from all three generations of tests provide rigid evidence of persistence within the suicides for most member states of the G20 countries, hence supporting the current strategic agenda pushed by the WHO in reducing suicides to a target rate of 10 percent. In addition, we further propose that such strategies should emanate from within G20 countries and spread globally thereafter.