The introduction of the hospital reimbursement based on diagnosis related groups (DRG) in 2004 has been a conspicuous attempt to increase hospital efficiency in Germany. We analyze possible determinants of hospital performance before and after the DRG introduction. A two-stage semi-parametric...

Pension systems and their reforms are often discussed in the context of financial viability. These debates grow in intensity with the aging of the population in industrialized countries. However, an increase in retirement age may create unintended side effects for retirees' health or healthcare...

This study aims to analyze inter-stakeholders’ interactions, destination governance, reverse innovation and the tasks of central government within Turkish medical tourism market. The investigation’s objective is to shed lights on scientists and practitioners regarding to what extent medical...

To equalize differences in health plan premiums due to differences in risk pools, German legislature introduced a simple Risk Adjustment Scheme (RAS) based on age, gender and disability status in 1994. In addition, effective 1996, consumers gained the freedom to choose among hundreds of existing...

Empirical evidence on economies of scale in healthcare is mostly based on the cost effects of hospital mergers. In contrast to earlier studies, this paper approaches the economies of scale issue by analysing the break-ups of municipal health centre federations. We use the...

The purpose of this study is to analyse the determinants of life expectancy as proxy for health status of the OECD countries' population. A production function of health is used to explain expectancy life at birth for total and ageing population and according to gender. Socio-economic factors,...

Comprehensive evidence has shown that unemployment can have adverse effects on an individuals' mental and physical health condition. However little is known about the side effects of governmental policies that aim to promote the unemployed's reintegration into the labor market on the health...

This paper examines the causal effect of volume on outcome on the example of patients with a hip fracture. We use an instrumental variable approach and consider both the practice-makes-perfect and selective-referral hypothesis as well as unobserved patient heterogeneity. Our results indicate...