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The Importance of the First Generic Substitution: Evidence from Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Janssen, Aljoscha

    (Singapore Management University)

  • Granlund, David

    (Umea University)

Abstract

We analyze changes in the willingness to substitute from prescribed pharmaceuticals to more affordable generic equivalents in response to the first experience with a substitution. Using Swedish individual-level data of prescribed and dispensed pharmaceuticals, we employ a dynamic event study and an instrumental variable approach to show that an initial substitution reduces the probability of opposing subsequent substitutions by 39 percentage points. The impact of a first substitution is especially large among elderly patients. We recommend that policy-makers target patients with a history of opposed substitution and offer additional discounts to promote substitution as long-term savings outweigh one-time costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Janssen, Aljoscha & Granlund, David, 2022. "The Importance of the First Generic Substitution: Evidence from Sweden," Working Paper Series 1428, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1428
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Generic Substitution; Pharmaceuticals; Health Care Costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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