Cut-Point Shift and Index Shift in Self-Reported Health

Maarten Lindeboom () and Eddy Van Doorslaer

No 1286, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: There is a concern that ordered responses on health questions may differ across populations or even across subgroups of a population. This reporting heterogeneity may invalidate group comparisons and measures of health inequality. This paper proposes a test for differential reporting in ordered response models which allows us to distinguish between cut-point shift and index shift. The method is illustrated using Canadian National Population Health Survey data. The McMaster Health Utility Index (HUI) is used as a more objective health measure than the simple 5-point scale of self-assessed health. We find clear evidence of index shifting and cut-point shifting for age and gender, but not for income, education or language.

Keywords: index shift; health measurement; hierarchical ordered probit; cut-point shift; Canada (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D30 D31 I10 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 pages
Date: 2004-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dcm
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (270)

Published - published in: Journal of Health Economics, 2004, 23 (6), 1083-1099

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Related works:
Journal Article: Cut-point shift and index shift in self-reported health (2004)
Working Paper: Cut-point Shift and Index Shift in Self-reported Health (2003)
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