Benefit efficient statistical distributions on patient lists

Jan Ubøe; Jostein Lillestøl

doi:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2006.12.004

Benefit efficient statistical distributions on patient lists

J Health Econ. 2007 Jul 1;26(4):800-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2006.12.004. Epub 2006 Dec 30.

Authors

Jan Ubøe¹, Jostein Lillestøl

Affiliation

¹ Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway. jan.uboe@nhh.no

PMID: 17267056
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2006.12.004

Abstract

In this paper, we consider statistical distributions of different types of patients on the patient lists of doctors. In our framework different types of patients have different preferences regarding their preferred choice of doctor. Assuming that the system is benefit efficient in the sense that distributions with larger total utility have higher probability, we can construct unique probability measures describing the statistical distribution of the different types of patients.

MeSH terms

Choice Behavior
Female
Humans
Male
Norway
Patients*
State Medicine
Statistical Distributions*
Waiting Lists*