Welfare-related health inequality: does the choice of measure matter?

Eur J Health Econ. 2013 Jun;14(3):431-42. doi: 10.1007/s10198-012-0387-6. Epub 2012 Mar 25.

Abstract

Using representative microdata from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), we show that the welfare measure choice has a substantial impact on the degree of welfare-related health inequality. To assess the sensitivity of welfare-related health inequality measures, we combine a unique set of income and wealth measures with different subjective, cardinalized, and (quasi-)objective health measures. The influence of the welfare measure is more pronounced when using subjective health measures than when using (quasi-)objective health measures.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Data Collection / methods*
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Health Status
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data*
  • Public Assistance / statistics & numerical data*
  • Socioeconomic Factors