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Re-Examining Geographic Variation in Health and Health Care

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Listed:
  • Amy Finkelstein
  • Matthew Gentzkow

Abstract

A large literature has documented widespread variation in health care spending per capita across areas of the United States without correspondingly better health outcomes. Recent work has used mover designs to estimate the causal impact of place on both health care spending and mortality. In this paper, we investigate whether places that increase health care spending also tend to be places that increase health. We find that they do not and discuss the implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Amy Finkelstein & Matthew Gentzkow, 2026. "Re-Examining Geographic Variation in Health and Health Care," NBER Working Papers 34682, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34682
    Note: AG EH PE
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tatyana Deryugina & David Molitor, 2021. "The Causal Effects of Place on Health and Longevity," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 35(4), pages 147-170, Fall.
    2. Raj Chetty & Nathaniel Hendren, 2018. "The Impacts of Neighborhoods on Intergenerational Mobility II: County-Level Estimates," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 133(3), pages 1163-1228.
    3. Raj Chetty & Nathaniel Hendren, 2018. "The Impacts of Neighborhoods on Intergenerational Mobility I: Childhood Exposure Effects," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 133(3), pages 1107-1162.
    4. Amy Finkelstein & Matthew Gentzkow & Heidi Williams, 2016. "Sources of Geographic Variation in Health Care: Evidence From PatientMigration," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(4), pages 1681-1726.
    5. Amitabh Chandra & Amy Finkelstein & Adam Sacarny & Chad Syverson, 2016. "Health Care Exceptionalism? Performance and Allocation in the US Health Care Sector," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(8), pages 2110-2144, August.
    6. Angela Wyse & Bruce D. Meyer, 2025. "Saved by Medicaid: New Evidence on Health Insurance and Mortality from the Universe of Low-Income Adults," NBER Working Papers 33719, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Ellis, Randall P. & McGuire, Thomas G., 1986. "Provider behavior under prospective reimbursement : Cost sharing and supply," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 129-151, June.
    8. Sarah Miller & Norman Johnson & Laura R Wherry, 2021. "Medicaid and Mortality: New Evidence From Linked Survey and Administrative Data," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 136(3), pages 1783-1829.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets

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