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The Review of Economics and Statistics Vol. 79 No. 3 1997

A Panel Data Design for Estimation of Hospital Cost Functions

Kathleen Carey

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Abstract

This paper estimates a multiple-output hospital cost function using a panel data technique that allows for correlation between unobservable individual effects and observable determinants of behavior. Analysis of 1733 facilities for the period of 1987–1991 yields estimates that differ widely from those obtained from a more standard cross-sectional procedure. While the latter method results in negative and stable measures of ray economies of scale, the panel model indicates positive economies of scale that fall slightly over time.

DOI
10.1162/003465300556850
Volume
79
Issue
3
Pages
443-453
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref

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