Payer-driven competition has been widely advocated as a means of increasing efficiency in health care markets. The 1990s reforms to the UK health service followed this path. We examine whether competition led to better outcomes for patients, as measured by death rates after treatment following heart attacks. We exploit differences in competition over time and space to identify the impact of competition. Using data on mortality as a measure of hospital quality and exploiting the policy change during the 1990s, we find that the relationship between competition and quality of care appears to be negative.
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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number
4026.
Find related papers by JEL classification: H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General L80 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - General
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