Health Information and Well-Being: Evidence from an Asymptomatic Disease

Matz Dahlberg (), Kevin Mani (), Mattias Öhman () and Anders Wanhainen ()
Additional contact information
Matz Dahlberg: Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Postal: Box 514,, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
Kevin Mani: Department of Surgical Sciences, Postal: Section of Vascular Surgery, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala
Mattias Öhman: Department of Economics, Postal: Uppsala University, P.O. Box 513, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
Anders Wanhainen: Department of Surgical Sciences, Postal: Section of Vascular Surgery, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala

No 2016:2, Working Paper Series from Uppsala University, Department of Economics

Abstract: We examine how health information affects individuals' subjective well-being using a regression discontinuity design on data from a screening program for an asymptomatic disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The information provided to the individuals is guided by the measured aorta size and its relation to pre-determined levels. When comparing individuals that receive information that they are healthy with those that receive information that they are in the risk zone for AAA, we find no effects. However, when comparing those that receive information that they have a small AAA, and will be under increased surveillance, with those who receive information that they are in the risk zone, we find a weak positive effect on well-being. This indicates that the information about increased surveillance (positive) may outweigh the information about worse health (negative).

Keywords: Information; Health; Screening; Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D80 I12 I31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 32 pages
Date: 2016-01-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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