Do countries with higher GDP spend more on disabilities? New evidence in OECD countries

Disability not only encounters people with disabilities with physical, intellectual, and sensory limitations but also it imposes remarkable costs on families and governments to provide the needed supports (1-4). According to the World report on disability, 15 % of the world population are living with a kind of disability. Of these, the results of the world health survey indicate that 2.2% (110 million people) experience remarkable difficulties in functioning (5). The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) compromises 36 members (28 European countries, 4 American countries, 2 Asian countries, and 2 Australia/Oceania countries) with different socio-economic levels. In 2015, OECD countries spent 8.8% of their GDP on healthcare, that is around 0.7% higher compared to 2000 (6). The findings indicate that healthcare spending has outpaced economic growth over the past decades due to rapid advances in medical technologies, assistive devices, population aging, and raising awareness....