An Empirical Analysis of the Demand for Physician Services across the European Union

This paper presents parameter estimates for physician service equations using the "European Community Household Panel" for 12 countries covering the period 1994-1996. The focus is on two specific points: (1) the identification of behavioural similarities and differences in the demand for h...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The European journal of health economics 2004-06, Vol.5 (2), p.150-165
Main Authors: Jiménez-Martín, Sergi, Labeaga, José M., Martínez-Granado, Maite
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Data models
Economic modeling
Economic models
European Union
Family physicians
Family Practice - manpower
Family Practice - statistics & numerical data
Female
General practice
Health economics
Health Manpower
Health services
Health Services Needs and Demand - statistics & numerical data
Higher education
Humans
Income effect
Male
Medicine - statistics & numerical data
Men
Middle Aged
Models, Econometric
Original Papers
Physicians
Public health
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Specialization
Studies
Waves
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Summary:This paper presents parameter estimates for physician service equations using the "European Community Household Panel" for 12 countries covering the period 1994-1996. The focus is on two specific points: (1) the identification of behavioural similarities and differences in the demand for health services across the 12 countries; (2) the variability in demand for health services represented through a joint model for all countries. We found that there are significant differences among countries, although there are also similarities in the effect of variables such as health stock, labour situation or family structure. An important fraction of the variability in the demand for health services across countries could be explained by differences in age, income and the role of general practitioners as gatekeepers in the public health system. We found some evidence of induced demand in the decision to visit a specialist and in the number of such visits.
ISSN:1618-7598
1618-7601
DOI:10.1007/s10198-003-0215-0