The marginal cost of saving a life in health care: age, gender and regional differences in Switzerland
In: Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, Vol. 145 (2009), No. 2, pp. 137 - 153
2009article/chapter in journal
Economics
Title:
The marginal cost of saving a life in health care: age, gender and regional differences in Switzerland
Author:
Felder, StefanUDE
- LSF ID
- 49726
- Other
- connected with university
Year of publication:
2009
Abstract:
This paper estimates the marginal cost of saving a life using age- and genderspecific health care expenditures and mortality rates of the 26 Swiss cantons for the period 1997 to 2006. It shows almost triple the marginal cost of saving a life for women as compared to men, reflecting a lower marginal elasticity of medical inputs, a lower mortality rate and higher spending on health care for women. Medical technology does not differ across cantons while the marginal cost of saving a life does. Wealthy cantons spend more on saving a life at the margin and show a smaller gender gap in longevity.