Provider Supply, Utilization, and Infant Health: Evidence from a Physician Distribution Policy

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Year: 2019
Volume: 11
Issue: 3
Pages: 156-96

Authors (2)

Bladimir Carrillo (not in RePEc) Jose Feres (Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV))

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We analyze a policy that substantially expanded the supply of primary care physicians in Brazil. The program increased doctor visits across all age groups and led to greater utilization of doctors for prenatal care. However, these physicians replaced nurse visits for prenatal care without increasing the overall number of visits women receive. We find no evidence of gains in widely used metrics of infant health, including birth weight, gestation, and infant mortality. Together, these findings provide suggestive evidence that physicians and nurses may be good substitutes in the production function of infant health.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejpol:v:11:y:2019:i:3:p:156-96
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25