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Home | Events Archive | Doctor Who? The Effect of Physician-Patient Match on the SES-Health Gradient
Seminar

Doctor Who? The Effect of Physician-Patient Match on the SES-Health Gradient

  • Series
    Health Economics Seminars
  • Speaker(s)
    Ida Lykke Kristiansen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • Field
    Empirical Microeconomics
  • Location
    Erasmus University Rotterdam, Campus Woudestein, Langeveld 1.12
    Rotterdam
  • Date and time

    January 17, 2024
    15:00 - 16:00

Abstract

This study explores the impact of primary care physicians' childhood socio-economic status (SES) on their patients' health and socio-economic inequality in health. We measure physicians' SES by their parents' education and find that SES concordance decreases low-SES patients' mortality substantially, while high-SES patients' mortality does not depend on their physicians' family background, resulting in a reduction in the SES-mortality gradient of around 25%. SES concordance improves low-SES patients' health by increasing care at the intensive margin, increasing detection of chronic conditions, and improving adherence to treatment. SES concordance elevates communication, fosters empathy and trust between physicians and low SES patients.