Market structure and gender disparity in health care: preferences, competition, and quality of care

A-Tier
Journal: RAND Journal of Economics
Year: 2014
Volume: 45
Issue: 1
Pages: 116-139

Authors (2)

Ryan C. McDevitt (Duke University) James W. Roberts (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.018 = (α=2.02 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

type="main"> <p>We consider the relationship between market structure and health outcomes in a setting where patients have stark preferences: urology patients disproportionately match with a urologist of the same gender. In the United States, however, fewer than 6% of urologists are women despite women constituting 30% of patients. We explain a portion of this disparity with a model of imperfect competition in which urology groups strategically differentiate themselves by employing female urologists. These strategic effects may influence women's health, as markets without a female urologist have a 7.3% higher death rate for female bladder cancer, all else equal.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:randje:v:45:y:2014:i:1:p:116-139
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26