Publications Based on SOEP Data: SOEPlit

Direct evidence of risk aversion as a source of advantageous selection in health insurance

Using the self-stated degree of risk aversion regarding health from the GSOEP we find some evidence for risk aversion being a source of advantageous selection. Risk averse men more often procure supplementary insurance for hospital visits despite needing the additional coverage less.

Why are the Unemployed in Worse Health? The Causal Effect of Unemployment on Health

We analyse the effect of unemployment on health using information from the German Socio-Economic Panel of the years 1991–2008. To establish a causal effect we rely on fixed-effects methods and plant closures as exogenous entries into unemployment. Although unemployment is negatively correlated with health, we do not find a negative effect of unemployment due to plant closure on health across several ...

Practice budgets and the patient mix of physicians - The effect of a remuneration system reform on health care utilisation

This study analyses the effect of a change in the remuneration system for physicians on the treatment lengths as measured by the number of doctor visits using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel over the period 1995-2002. Specifically, I analyse the introduction of a remuneration cap (so called practice budgets) for physicians who treat publicly insured patients in 1997. I find evidence that ...

Heterogeneity in Price Responsiveness for Residential Space Heating in Germany

Space heating and hot water expenditures make up the majority of household energy demand in Germany, at 83.2%, making them an attractive target for energy policies. Using a panel dataset derived from yearly residential household surveys covering the years 1996 to 2014, we identify the determinants of heating expenditures for German households. We discover significant heterogeneity in expenditures depending ...

Benefit-Entitlement Effects and the Duration of Unemployment: An Ex-Ante Evaluation of Recent Labour Market Reforms in Germany

Health and the double burden of full-time work and informal care provision - Evidence from administrative data

We analyze the relationship between health and the double burden of both informal care provision and full-time work using administrative data from the second biggest German sickness fund. We have information on more than 7000 caregivers over a period of three years and apply linear panel data and two-part models. As outcome measures we use detailed information on the prescription of five types of drugs. ...

Short- and medium-term effects of informal care provision on female caregivers’ health

In this paper, we present estimates of the effect of informal care provision on female caregivers’ health. We use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and assess effects up to seven years after care provision. The results suggest that there is a considerable negative short-term effect of informal care provision on mental health which fades out over time. Five years after care provision the effect ...

Informal care and long-term labor market outcomes

In this paper we estimate long-run effects of informal care provision on female caregivers’ labor market outcomes up to eight years after care provision. We compare a static version, where average effects of care provision in a certain year on later labor market outcomes are estimated, to a partly dynamic version where the effects of up to three consecutive years of care provision are analyzed. Our ...

In absolute or relative terms? How framing prices affects the consumer price sensitivity of health plan choice

This paper provides field evidence on (a) how price framing affects consumers’ decision to switch health insurance plans and (b) how the price elasticity of demand for health insurance can be influenced by policymakers through simple regulatory efforts. In 2009, in order to foster competition among health insurance companies, German federal regulation required health insurance companies to express ...

Does price framing affect the consumer price sensitivity of health plan choice?

This paper provides field evidence on how price framing affects consumers’ decision to switch health plans. In 2009 German federal regulation required insurers to express premium differences between standardized health plans in absolute euro values relative to a federal reference price, rather than in percentage point payroll tax differences. Representative individual level panel data and aggregated ...