Health inequality in post-socialist states: Liberalization and regional disparity in infant mortality in Tanzania

Tanzania is among the countries which transitioned from a centrally planned economy to an open-market system beginning in the late 1980s. The manner by which transitions to open markets affect social equality and equity remains a contentious topic. This paper uses demographic data on population health trends in Tanzania to shed light on the issue of liberalization and social inequality. The preliminary analysis, show a differential decline in infant mortality across regions with varying degrees of contact with liberalization policy, which is measured by concentration of villagization and intensity of privatization in a given region. The continuing analysis will use census data from 1988 and 2002, which is more representative at the district-level, to test further the results and conclusions drawn from the current analysis, which is based on Demographic and health Surveys (DHS).