Health Care in Italy: Expenditure Determinants and Regional Differentials

46 Pages Posted: 6 Jul 2011 Last revised: 11 Aug 2012

Date Written: June 1, 2010

Abstract

The aim of this work is to identify the determinants of health spending differentials among Italian regions, which could highlight the existence of potential margins for savings. The analysis exploits a dataset for the panel of the 21 Italian regions starting in the early 1990s and ending in 2006. After having controlled for standard healthcare demand indicators, spending differentials appear to be associated with differences in the degree of appropriateness of the treatments, supply structure and social capital indicators. These results suggest that savings could be achieved without reducing the amount of services supplied to citizens. This is particularly important in view of the expected rise in health spending associated with the forecast demographic developments.

Keywords: appropriateness of treatment, government health expenditure, regional variation

JEL Classification: H51, I1

Suggested Citation

Francese, Maura and Romanelli, Marzia, Health Care in Italy: Expenditure Determinants and Regional Differentials (June 1, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1880310 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1880310

Maura Francese (Contact Author)

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
Rome, 00184
Italy

Marzia Romanelli

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
00184 Roma
Italy

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