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Informal payments by patients for health services: prevalence and determinants

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  • Adrian V. Horodnic
  • Colin C. Williams

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explain the prevalence of informal payments in the health services sector in Southern Europe using the lens of institutional theory. To evaluate whether informal payments prevail due to formal institutional failures which lead to an asymmetry between the laws and regulations (formal institutions) and the unwritten rules (informal institutions), an analysis is undertaken of 2013 Eurobarometer survey data on the propensity to make informal payments by patients in Southern Europe. A strong association is found between the extent to which formal and informal institutions are unaligned, and the prevalence of informal payments, and such payments are found to be more likely when there is a lack of modernisation of governance coupled with a low range and reach of health services provision, lower health outcomes and systems focus on curative rather than preventative health services. The theoretical and policy implications are then explored.

Suggested Citation

  • Adrian V. Horodnic & Colin C. Williams, 2018. "Informal payments by patients for health services: prevalence and determinants," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(11-12), pages 841-855, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:servic:v:38:y:2018:i:11-12:p:841-855
    DOI: 10.1080/02642069.2018.1450870
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. repec:aud:audfin:v:21:y:2019:i:50:p:60 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Ehsan Zarei & Adeleh Nikkhah & Soheila Khodakarim & Milena Pavlova, 2021. "Patients' attitude toward informal payments in Iran: an application of the cluster analysis method," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 689-702, May.
    6. Giannouchos, Theodoros V. & Vozikis, Athanassios & Koufopoulou, Paraskevi & Fawkes, Leanne & Souliotis, Kyriakos, 2020. "Informal out-of-pocket payments for healthcare services in Greece," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(7), pages 758-764.
    7. Jean-Louis Keene, 2020. "Essays on political economy and development [Essais sur l'économie politique et le développement]," SciencePo Working papers Main tel-04125445, HAL.
    8. Elisabetta Reginato & Isabella Fadda & Paola Paglietti & Aldo Pavan, 2021. "Informal Payments and Performance in the Health Care Sector: Possible Relationships in a Sub-National Perspective," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(3), pages 126-126, July.
    9. 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.
    10. 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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