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The effects of medical school on health outcomes: Evidence from admission lotteries

Author

Listed:
  • Leuven, Edwin
  • Oosterbeek, Hessel
  • de Wolf, Inge

Abstract

This paper estimates the effects of attending medical school on health outcomes by exploiting that admission to medical school in the Netherlands is determined by a lottery. Among the applicants for medical school, people who attended medical school have on average 1.5 more years of completed education than people who did not. They are also more likely to have been exposed to a health-related education curriculum. The results show only modest impacts on health outcomes. Attending medical school reduces alcohol consumption and being underweight somewhat, and has a small positive impact on self-reported health status. It has, however, a small negative effect on the frequency of physical exercise and no significant impact on smoking, and being overweight or obese. Attending medical school does have a large positive impact on the probability of being registered for donations of organs.

Suggested Citation

  • Leuven, Edwin & Oosterbeek, Hessel & de Wolf, Inge, 2013. "The effects of medical school on health outcomes: Evidence from admission lotteries," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 698-707.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:32:y:2013:i:4:p:698-707
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2013.04.001
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    4. Brüll, Eduard & Rostam-Afschar, Davud & Schlenker, Oliver, 2024. "Cut off from new competition: Threat of entry and health care quality," Working Papers 41, University of Konstanz, Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality. Perceptions, Participation and Policies".
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    7. Fiva, Jon H. & Hægeland, Torbjørn & Rønning, Marte & Syse, Astri, 2014. "Access to treatment and educational inequalities in cancer survival," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 98-111.
    8. Brüll, Eduard & Rostam-Afschar, Davud & Schlenker, Oliver, 2025. "Cut off from new competition: Threat of entry and quality of primary care," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    9. Stanislav Avdeev, 2025. "University as a Melting Pot: Long-term Effects of Internationalization," CESifo Working Paper Series 12283, CESifo.

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    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality

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