Analyzing whether countries are equally efficient at improving longevity for men and women

D. Barthold, A. Nandi, J.M. Mendoza Rodríguez and J. Heymann

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 11, 2163-2169

Abstract: Objectives. We examined the efficiency of country-specific health care spending in improving life expectancies for men and women. Methods. We estimated efficiencies of health care spending for 27 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries during the period 1991 to 2007 using multivariable regression models, including country fixed-effects and controlling for time-varying levels of national social expenditures, economic development, and health behaviors. Results. Findings indicated robust differences in health-spending efficiency. A 1% annual increase in health expenditures was associated with percent changes in life expectancy ranging from0.020 in the United States (95%confidence interval [CI] = 0.008, 0.032) to 0.121 in Germany (95% CI = 0.099, 0.143). Health-spending increases were associated with greater life expectancy improvements for men than for women in nearly every OECD country. Conclusions. This is the first study to our knowledge to estimate the effect of country-specific health expenditures on life expectancies ofmen and women. Future work understanding the determinants of these differences has the potential to improve the overall efficiency and equity of national health systems. © 2014, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: adult; aged; female; health care cost; health disparity; human; life expectancy; longevity; male; middle aged; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; sex difference; statistics and numerical data, Adult; Aged; Female; Health Expenditures; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Life Expectancy; Longevity; Male; Middle Aged; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development; Sex Factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301494_4

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301494

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