A panel data analysis of productive efficiency in freestanding health clinics

By using a panel data on a number of freestanding health clinics in New York State over 1984–1987, we have estimated the production function for ambulatory care after controlling for unmeasured clinic-specific managerial efficiency. We found significant differences in management efficiency, which peaks around 50500 visits per year. The optimal staffing ratio between doctors, extenders and nurses was found to be around 1∶1/3∶1, in order for a clinic to be on the efficiency frontier.     

A note on a theorem by Professor Chow

Dhrymes (1973) pointed out an error in the determinant-minimizing algorithm worked out by Chow (1964) to obtain the Three-State Least Squares estimator. We prove that the procedure suggested by Dhrymes (1973) in this connection does not yield the 3SLS estimator either.     

Do people really support trade restrictions? Cross-country evidence

We investigate the effect of trade restrictions on the perception of well-being. Using combined cross-sectional micro data from the World Values Survey and the European Values Survey of individuals in 89 countries, we find that citizens of a country with a lower degree of trade restrictions are more satisfied with their lives. The results are also robust across different measures of well-being, different definitions of trade restrictions, different estimation methods, and different sample sizes.     

Health insurance coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of Medicaid expansion

Using data from the US Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey, we analyzed the likelihood of loss of health insurance and enrollment into new health coverage during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Loss of employment was associated with a significant increase in the likelihood of loss of health insurance and, specifically, an increase in the likelihood of employer-sponsored health insurance. However, individuals in Medicaid expansion states experienced a lower likelihood of loss of health insurance compared with individuals in nonexpansion states. At the same time, there was a statistically significant increase in Medicaid enrollment in expansion states, by 3.2 percentage points. Reemployment or acquiring employment was associated with a gain in health insurance coverage. During an economic downturn, eligibility, and coverage gaps leave many without affordable coverage options, and the pandemic will likely bring renewed attention to gaps in Medicaid coverage in nonexpansion states.