Physicians and the Production of Health: Returns to Health Care during the Mortality Transition
利用1928-1936年德国市政数据，以犹太医生被排除出法定医保作为外生冲击，发现医生供给增加降低了婴儿和儿童死亡率，且医疗保健的边际回报递减。
Abstract This paper investigates the returns to health care provision during the mortality transition. We construct a new panel data set covering German municipalities from 1928 to 1936. The endogeneity of health care supply is addressed by using the expulsion of Jewish physicians from statutory health insurance as exogenous variation in regional physician supply. Increases in the supply of physicians reduce infant mortality and mortality from common childhood diseases. Using a semiparametric control function approach, we find diminishing marginal returns to health care provision. The results are consistent with historical trends in infant mortality over the twentieth century.