Innovation and Diffusion of Medical Treatment

Barton Hamilton (), Andrés Hincapié, Robert A. Miller and Nicholas Papageorge

No 24577, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper develops and estimates a dynamic structural model of demand for a multi-attribute product. The demand side equilibrium supports a product spectrum, the characteristics of which evolve over time in response to supply innovations induced by the composition and extent of aggregate demand. The direction and speed of innovation is inefficient because individuals create an externality by not accounting for their influence on the discovery process. We apply the model to drugs invented to combat the HIV epidemic, during which frequent, incremental innovations in medication were punctuated by sporadic breakthroughs. In this application products differ in their efficacy and their propensity to cause side effects. Our biennial data on four American cities track a replenished panel of individuals for over twenty years, from when drugs were not only ineffective but also created debilitating side effects, to when the market matured. We find that the externalities are quantitatively important and that even a temporary subsidy would have improved average social welfare and been more equitable.

JEL-codes: O31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-ino
Note: AG EH PR
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published as Barton H. Hamilton & Andrés Hincapié & Robert A. Miller & Nicholas W. Papageorge, 2021. "Innovation And Diffusion Of Medical Treatment," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 62(3), pages 953-1009, August.

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Journal Article: INNOVATION AND DIFFUSION OF MEDICAL TREATMENT (2021)
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