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Is American Pet Health Care (Also) Uniquely Inefficient?

Author

Listed:
  • Liran Einav
  • Amy Finkelstein
  • Atul Gupta

Abstract

We document four similarities between American human healthcare and American pet care: (i) rapid growth in spending as a share of GDP over the last two decades; (ii) strong income-spending gradient; (iii) rapid growth in the employment of healthcare providers; and (iv) similar propensity for high spending at the end of life. We speculate about possible implications of these similar patterns in two sectors that share many common features but differ markedly in institutional features, such as the prevalence of insurance and of public sector involvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Liran Einav & Amy Finkelstein & Atul Gupta, 2017. "Is American Pet Health Care (Also) Uniquely Inefficient?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(5), pages 491-495, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:107:y:2017:i:5:p:491-95
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20171087
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amitabh Chandra & Amy Finkelstein & Adam Sacarny & Chad Syverson, 2016. "Health Care Exceptionalism? Performance and Allocation in the US Health Care Sector," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(8), pages 2110-2144, August.
    2. Robert E. Hall & Charles I. Jones, 2007. "The Value of Life and the Rise in Health Spending," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(1), pages 39-72.
    3. Weisbrod, Burton A, 1991. "The Health Care Quadrilemma: An Essay on Technological Change, Insurance, Quality of Care, and Cost Containment," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 29(2), pages 523-552, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Abigail Ferguson & Nellie Lew & Michael Lipsitz & Devesh Raval, 2023. "Economics at the FTC: Spatial Demand, Veterinary Hospital Mergers, Rulemaking, and Noncompete Agreements," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 63(4), pages 435-465, December.
    2. Neill, Clinton & Zhang, Peilu, . "Payment Plans and Veterinary Services: Do They Reduce the Pain of Pet Owner Payment?," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 49(1).
    3. Clancy, Matthew S. & Sneeringer, Stacy E., 2018. "Eating the Seed Corn? The Impact of Generic Drug Entry on Innovation in Animal Health," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274379, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations

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