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Doctor Who? The Effect of Physician-Patient Match on The SES-Health Gradient

Author

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  • Ida Lykke Kristiansen

    (CEBI, Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen)

  • Sophie Yanying Sheng

    (University of California San Diego)

Abstract

We investigate whether primary care physician and patient concordance in terms of socio-economic status (SES) reduces the SES inequality in health. We measure physicians’ SES by their childhood SES and find that SES concordance decreases low-SES patients’ mortality, while high-SES patients’ mortality does not depend on their physicians’ background. Together, they translate to a 24% reduction in the SES-mortality gradient. SES concordance changes the health behavior of the patient and increases treatment of chronic conditions: low-SES patients with low-SES physicians receive more care at the intensive margin, have a higher detection of chronic conditions, and have higher adherence to treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Ida Lykke Kristiansen & Sophie Yanying Sheng, 2022. "Doctor Who? The Effect of Physician-Patient Match on The SES-Health Gradient," CEBI working paper series 22-05, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kucebi:2205
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    File URL: https://www.econ.ku.dk/cebi/publikationer/working-papers/CEBI_WP_05-22.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Shan Huang & Hannes Ullrich, 2023. "Provider effects in antibiotic prescribing: Evidence from physician exits," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0018, Berlin School of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    health inequality; physician practice style; intergenerational transmission; family background; socio-economic status; health behaviors;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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