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How effective is public health expenditure in improving overall health? A cross-country analysis

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  • Sharmistha Self
  • Richard Grabowski

Abstract

The primary emphasis of this paper is on seeking some justification for the worldwide phenomenon of increasing government involvement in health-care. The disability-adjusted-health-expectancy (DALE) rankings of countries in the World Health Report, 2000, ranked wealthier countries, with a typically large public sector involvement in health-care, higher on the list. Contrary to the possible implications for this ranking, this paper finds that the comparatively higher DALE in wealthier countries is not a result of greater public health expenditures. In the middle income and less developed countries, however, there is some evidence of effective public involvement in health-care.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharmistha Self & Richard Grabowski, 2003. "How effective is public health expenditure in improving overall health? A cross-country analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(7), pages 835-845.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:35:y:2003:i:7:p:835-845
    DOI: 10.1080/0003684032000056751
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    References listed on IDEAS

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