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The contribution of locational factors to regional variations in office-based physicians in Germany

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  • Vogt, Verena

Abstract

There is considerable literature showing that regional variation in the number of office-based physicians is rather explained by factors such as financial attractiveness of a region or employment opportunities for spouses than by health care needs of the population. It remains unclear, however, how much of the variation is explained by each of these determinants. The aim of the present study is to estimate the percentage contribution of a variety of determinants to the measured variation in Germany. Physician density is regressed on a well-defined set of explanatory variables that were identified as determinants of physician location. Regression-based decomposition was applied to decompose the variation in physician density into the percentage contribution of each of the determinants. The results show that varying health care needs of the population explained less than 5.2% of the variation in physician density. Percentage of population with private health insurance explained 14% of the variation in GP density and between 2% and 6% of the variation in specialists’ density. For specialists, a higher share of variance was attributable to the variables measuring sociocultural amenities of a region compared to GPs.

Suggested Citation

  • Vogt, Verena, 2016. "The contribution of locational factors to regional variations in office-based physicians in Germany," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(2), pages 198-204.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:120:y:2016:i:2:p:198-204
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.01.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Haering, Alexander & Kaeding, Matthias & Werbeck, Anna, 2024. "Equal access to primary care: A reference for spatial allocation," Ruhr Economic Papers 1089, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    4. Wende, Danny & Kopetsch, Thomas & Richter, Wolfram F., 2020. "Planning health care capacities with a gravity equation," Ruhr Economic Papers 888, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    5. Beduchaud, Loup & Celingant, Enoa & Faure, Clara & Meunier, Mathilda & Blanco-Cazeaux, Iñaki, 2024. "Do international medical graduates’ recruitment policies help to overcome healthcare shortage areas in developed countries? A systematic review," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    6. Kuhn, Michael & Ochsen, Carsten, 2019. "Population change and the regional distribution of physicians," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 14(C).
    7. Sriubaite, Ieva, 2021. "Who will be the mediator? Local politics and hospital closures in Germany," Ruhr Economic Papers 897, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    8. Loup Beduchaud & Enoa Celingant & Clara Faure & Mathilda Meunier & Iñaki Blanco-Cazeaux, 2024. "Do international medical graduates' recruitment policies help to overcome healthcare shortage areas in developed countries? A systematic review," Post-Print hal-04756497, HAL.

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