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Regional variation in healthcare utilization and mortality

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Abstract

Geographic variation in healthcare utilization has raised concerns of possible inefficiencies in healthcare supply, as differences are often not reflected in health outcomes. Using comprehensive Norwegian microdata, we exploit cross-region migration to analyze regional variation in healthcare utilization. Our results indicate that hospital region factors account for half of the total variation, while the rest reflect variation in patient demand. We find no statistically significant association between the estimated hospital region effects and overall mortality rates. However, we document a negative association with relative utilization-intensive causes of death such as cancer, suggesting high-supply regions may achieve modestly improved health outcomes.

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  • Anna Godøy & Ingrid Huitfeldt, 2018. "Regional variation in healthcare utilization and mortality," Discussion Papers 890, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    • Handle: RePEc:ssb:dispap:890
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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Moura & Martin Salm & Rudy Douven & Minke Remmerswaal, 2019. "Causes of regional variation in Dutch healthcare expenditures: Evidence from movers," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(9), pages 1088-1098, September.
    2. Avdic, Daniel & Ivets, Maryna & Lagerqvist, Bo & Sriubaite, Ieva, 2023. "Providers, peers and patients. How do physicians’ practice environments affect patient outcomes?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Moura, Ana, 2021. "Essays in health economics," Other publications TiSEM c93abd22-fa4a-42a5-b172-d, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    4. Bensnes, Simon & Huitfeldt, Ingrid, 2021. "Rumor has it: How do patients respond to patient-generated physician ratings?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    5. Huitfeldt, Ingrid, 2021. "Hospital reimbursement and capacity constraints: Evidence from orthopedic surgeries," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(6), pages 732-738.
    6. Michael Berger & Thomas Czypionka, 2021. "Regional medical practice variation in high-cost healthcare services," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 22(6), pages 917-929, August.
    7. Saxby, Karinna & Buchmueller, Thomas & de New, Sonja C. & Petrie, Dennis, 2025. "Regional variation in mental healthcare utilization and suicide: Evidence from movers in Australia," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    8. Annika Herr & Maximilian Lückemann & Amela Saric-Babin, 2025. "Regional variation in the utilization of nursing home care in Germany," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 26(5), pages 757-776, July.
    9. Berger, Michael & Czypionka, Thomas, 2021. "Regional medical practice variation in high-cost healthcare services: evidence from diagnostic imaging in Austria," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112952, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Berger, Michael & Zuba, Martin & Simon, Judit, 2025. "Urban–rural disparities in hospital admissions for depression in Austria," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    11. Jakub Červený & Jan C. van Ours, 2025. "Long-term returns to local health-care spending," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 26(2), pages 153-182, March.
    12. Jan Håkon Rudolfsen & Jan Abel Olsen, 2023. "Related variations: A novel approach for detecting patterns of regional variations in healthcare utilisation rates," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, June.
    13. Anna Godøy & Venke Furre Haaland & Ingrid Huitfeldt & Mark Votruba, 2019. "Impacts of hospital wait time on patient health and labor supply," Discussion Papers 919, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    14. Naimi Johansson & Mikael Svensson, 2022. "Regional variation in prescription drug spending: Evidence from regional migrants in Sweden," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(9), pages 1862-1877, September.
    15. Shan Huang & Hannes Ullrich, 2023. "Provider effects in antibiotic prescribing: Evidence from physician exits," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0018, Berlin School of Economics.

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    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
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private

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