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Agency in Health Care: Lessons for Economists from Sociologists

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  • Mandy Ryan

Abstract

. What economists can learn from sociologists with regard to the economic theory of agency in health care is considered. Whilst the concept of agency has become widely accepted in health economics, its application to the doctor‐patient relationship remains somewhat limited. Research is needed on the nature of the patient's and doctor's utility functions before an efficient outcome in health care can be achieved. Economists have much to learn from sociologists concerning the nature of patient's and doctor's utility functions. Only when economists take account of this literature will moves towards an efficient outcome in health care be achieved.

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  • Mandy Ryan, 1994. "Agency in Health Care: Lessons for Economists from Sociologists," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(2), pages 207-217, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:53:y:1994:i:2:p:207-217
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.1994.tb02588.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dionne, Georges & Contandriopoulos, Andre-Pierre, 1985. "Doctors and their workshops : A review article," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 4(1), pages 21-33, March.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Einat Neuman & Shoshana Neuman, 2009. "Agency in health-care: are medical care-givers perfect agents?," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(13), pages 1355-1360.
    2. Udo Schneider & Volker Ulrich, 2007. "Health Relevant Behavior and its Impact on the Physician-Patient Relationship," Working Papers 023, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).
    3. Fotaki, Marianna, 2006. "Users' perceptions of health care reforms: Quality of care and patient rights in four regions in the Russian Federation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(6), pages 1637-1647, September.
    4. Udo Schneider & Volker Ulrich, 2008. "The physician-patient relationship revisited: the patient’s view," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 279-300, December.
    5. Vick, Sandra & Scott, Anthony, 1998. "Agency in health care. Examining patients' preferences for attributes of the doctor-patient relationship," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 587-605, October.
    6. Philippe Batifoulier & Nicolas Da Silva, 2014. "The economic behaviour of doctors: medical altruism without an ethic?," EconomiX Working Papers 2014-9, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    7. Mandy Ryan, 1996. "Using willingness to pay to assess the benefits of assisted reproductive techniques," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 5(6), pages 543-558, November.
    8. Riise, Julie & Hole, Arne Risa & Gyrd-Hansen, Dorte & Skåtun, Diane, 2016. "GPs' implicit prioritization through clinical choices – evidence from three national health services," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 169-183.
    9. Pedersen, Line Bjørnskov & Hess, Stephane & Kjær, Trine, 2016. "Asymmetric information and user orientation in general practice: Exploring the agency relationship in a best–worst scaling study," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 115-130.
    10. Neuman, Einat & Neuman, Shoshana, 2007. "Agency in Health-Care: Are Medical Care-Givers Perfect Agents?," IZA Discussion Papers 2727, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Sophie Béjean & Christine Peyron & Renaud Urbinelli, 2007. "Variations in activity and practice patterns: a French study for GPs," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 8(3), pages 225-236, September.
    12. Schuster, Stephan, 2012. "Applications in Agent-Based Computational Economics," MPRA Paper 47201, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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