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Local inequality and departures from publicly provided health care in Canada

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  • Maripier Isabelle
  • Mark Stabile

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between changes in income inequality and the provision of resources in a health care system (the public‐private mix). Specifically, we investigate whether increases in income inequality, as separate from overall income levels and growth, have changed the availability of both private clinics and privately financed physicians in a context where the dominant market player is the public system. Our findings provide reasonable evidence that increases in income inequality have led to substantial increases in both. We find that moving from median level of inequality across neighborhoods to the top 1% level of inequality increases the probably of a private clinic by 40% and the probability of having physicians who have opted out of the public system by 170%.

Suggested Citation

  • Maripier Isabelle & Mark Stabile, 2020. "Local inequality and departures from publicly provided health care in Canada," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(9), pages 1031-1047, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:29:y:2020:i:9:p:1031-1047
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4117
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Chris Sampson’s journal round-up for 21st September 2020
      by Chris Sampson in The Academic Health Economists' Blog on 2020-09-21 11:00:06

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