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Geographic and Socioeconomic Variation in Healthcare: Evidence from Migration

Author

Listed:
  • Péter Elek

    (Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Corvinus University of Budapest)

  • Anita Győrfi

    (Vienna Graduate School of Economics)

  • Nóra Kungl

    (Vienna Graduate School of Economics)

  • Dániel Prinz

    (World Bank)

Abstract

We study variation in healthcare utilization across geographies and socioeconomic groups in Hungary. Exploiting migration across geographic regions and relying on high-quality administrative data on healthcare use and income we show that the role of place-specific supply factors is heterogeneous across types of care and across socioeconomic groups. Overall, place-specific factors account for 68% of the variation in outpatient spending and 35% of the variation in drug spending, but almost none of the variation in inpatient spending. Place effects explain four-fifth of outpatient spending variation for non-employed working-age individuals, but less than two-fifth for individuals with above-median wage incomes. There is a positive association between place effects and outpatient capacity, especially for low-income individuals. These results suggest that access to healthcare varies especially for low-income people even in a context with universal coverage.

Suggested Citation

  • Péter Elek & Anita Győrfi & Nóra Kungl & Dániel Prinz, 2023. "Geographic and Socioeconomic Variation in Healthcare: Evidence from Migration," KRTK-KTI WORKING PAPERS 2318, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:has:discpr:2318
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Chen, Alice & Lakdawalla, Darius N., 2019. "Healing the poor: The influence of patient socioeconomic status on physician supply responses," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 43-54.
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    6. Martin, Steve & Siciliani, Luigi & Smith, Peter, 2020. "Socioeconomic inequalities in waiting times for primary care across ten OECD countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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