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When a Doctor Falls from the Sky: The Impact of Easing Doctor Supply Constraints on Mortality

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  • Edward N. Okeke

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a policy experiment conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government. In this experiment, some communities were randomly selected to receive a new doctor. These doctors were posted to the local public health center. Prior to their arrival, health care was provided by midlevel health-care providers (MLP). To separate the effect of (ostensibly higher) quality from that of quantity, another group of communities was provided with an additional midlevel provider. A third group of communities received no additional workers. No other inputs were provided. I find a measurable decrease in mortality in communities assigned a doctor but not in communities assigned an MLP, suggesting that quality in the health-care sector is a significant constraint.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward N. Okeke, 2023. "When a Doctor Falls from the Sky: The Impact of Easing Doctor Supply Constraints on Mortality," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 113(3), pages 585-627, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:113:y:2023:i:3:p:585-627
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20210701
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Health impact of increasing access to physicians
      by Jason Shafrin in Healthcare Economist on 2023-03-05 20:49:16

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    Cited by:

    1. Christian Posso & Jorge Tamayo & Arlen Guarin & Estefania Saravia, 2024. "Luck of the Draw: The Causal Effect of Physicians on Birth Outcomes," Borradores de Economia 1269, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    2. McManus, Emma & Richardson, Joseph & Wattal, Vasudha & Woodard, Ritchie, 2023. "A Replication of "When a Doctor Falls from the Sky: The Impact of Easing Doctor Supply Constraints on Mortality", Okeke E.N. (2023)," I4R Discussion Paper Series 53, The Institute for Replication (I4R).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure

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