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Rethinking informal payments by patients in Europe: An institutional approach

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  • Williams, Colin C.
  • Horodnic, Adrian V.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explain informal payments by patients to healthcare professionals for the first time through the lens of institutional theory as arising when there are formal institutional imperfections and asymmetry between norms, values and practices and the codified formal laws and regulations. Reporting a 2013 Eurobarometer survey of the prevalence of informal payments by patients in 28 European countries, a strong association is revealed between the degree to which formal and informal institutions are unaligned and the propensity to make informal payments. The association between informal payments and formal institutional imperfections is then explored to evaluate which structural conditions might reduce this institutional asymmetry, and thus the propensity to make informal payments. The paper concludes by exploring the implications for tackling such informal practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Williams, Colin C. & Horodnic, Adrian V., 2017. "Rethinking informal payments by patients in Europe: An institutional approach," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(10), pages 1053-1062.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:121:y:2017:i:10:p:1053-1062
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2017.08.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Franić Josip & Kojouharov Anton, 2019. "Informal payments by patients in Croatia: benign custom or detrimental residue from socialism?," Croatian Review of Economic, Business and Social Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 5(2), pages 49-63, December.
    2. Cristian Incaltarau & Adrian V. Horodnic & Colin C. Williams & Liviu Oprea, 2021. "Institutional Determinants of Informal Payments for Health Services: An Exploratory Analysis across 117 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-19, November.
    3. repec:aud:audfin:v:21:y:2019:i:50:p:60 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Ning Liu & Zhuo Chen & Guoxian Bao, 2021. "Unpacking the red packets: institution and informal payments in healthcare in China," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 22(8), pages 1183-1194, November.
    5. Gheorghe Epuran & Claudia-Ioana Ciobanu & Adrian V. Horodnic & Gheorghe Epuran & Claudia-Ioana Ciobanu & Adrian V. Horodnic, 2019. "Green Jobs Creation – Main Element in the Implementation of Bioeconomic Mechanisms," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(50), pages 1-60, February.
    6. Ioana Alexandra Horodnic & Colin C. Williams & Alexandru Maxim & Iuliana Claudia Stoian & Oana Carmen Țugulea & Adrian V. Horodnic, 2021. "Knowing and Unknowing Purchases of Undeclared Healthcare Goods and Services: The Role of Vertical and Horizontal Trust," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Adrian V. Horodnic & Colin C. Williams & Răzvan Ionuț Drugă & Cristian Incaltarau, 2021. "Informal Payments by Patients in Central and Eastern Europe during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Institutional Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-17, October.

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