Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

On the Health Care Luxury Good Hypothesis

Version 1 : Received: 20 December 2021 / Approved: 27 December 2021 / Online: 27 December 2021 (14:09:29 CET)

How to cite: Ebadi, E. On the Health Care Luxury Good Hypothesis. Preprints 2021, 2021120432. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202112.0432.v1 Ebadi, E. On the Health Care Luxury Good Hypothesis. Preprints 2021, 2021120432. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202112.0432.v1

Abstract

A wide range of research has been developed in the empirical literature regarding income and price elasticities of health care expenditure (HCE). The results are mixed, as researchers employ different methodologies and data sources. The benefits of the panel data method, such as greater data variation, less collinearity, and more degrees of freedom, made it attractive among economists. However, the pooled mean group (PMG) method provides robust estimates compared to conventional methods, such as the mean group estimator and dynamic fixed-effects estimator. As such, this paper applies the PMG method to scrutinize the effect of income and price on U.S. health care consumption using a panel of 46 states. The income and price elasticities were found to be 0.85 and -0.48, respectively, which partially describes the recessionary decline in health care consumption following the Great Recession. In addition, the model reveals that the short-run income elasticity is smaller than the long-run. This confirms that U.S. health care consumption follows the permanent income hypothesis. Consequently, the short-run efficacy of public policies targeting HCE remains limited. The results of this paper suggest reconsidering and adjusting health care policies during a recession so as to avoid probable long-run adverse effects on HCE.

Keywords

Consumption; Health care expenditure; Luxury good hypothesis; Permanent income hypothesis; Panel cointegration

Subject

Business, Economics and Management, Economics

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.