Neighborhood networks and program participation

Daniel Grossman and Umair Khalil ()

Journal of Health Economics, 2020, vol. 70, issue C

Abstract: We investigate whether social interactions among pregnant women can lead to increased Medicaid participation within this population. Using geographically fine vital statistics data, we exploit variation in Medicaid use among recently pregnant mothers, within small neighborhoods, to study the impact on participation among currently pregnant women. Women are more likely to use Medicaid benefits while pregnant including prenatal care, when previously pregnant women on their census block also received similar benefits. Network effects are relatively larger for young first-time mothers as well as for women within neighborhoods with lower initial levels of welfare program knowledge.

Keywords: Program participation; Peer effects; Networks; Medicaid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C31 I13 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:70:y:2020:i:c:s0167629618306830

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2019.102257

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