Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/260011 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 2011:21
Publisher: 
Lund University, School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Lund
Abstract: 
This study uses the Swedish register of prescribed drugs, merged with the Survey of Living Conditions (the ULF), to analyze the socioeconomic gradient in drug utilization. It finds a significant education gradient (but no income gradient) in individual drug utilization. Whereas the education gradient for men is quantitative in its orientation (education affects number of drugs used), the gradient for women is both quantitative and qualitative (education affects mean cost of drugs). For males, but not as clearly for females, the study finds that the education gradient is weaker for more health-related drugs but stronger for more expensive drugs. Our results indicate that the main reason for the education gradient in drug utilization is doctors' behaviour rather than compliance with medication and affordability of drugs.
Subjects: 
health inequality
healthcare
drug utilization
income
education
JEL: 
D30
D31
I10
I12
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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