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Publications and accepted papers
Publications and accepted papers
(Previously titled: "Doctor Who? The Effect of Physician-Patient Match on the SES-Health Gradient"
With Sophie Yanying Sheng
Accepted for publication in The Review of Economics and Statistics
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 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.
Media coverage: [Danish Broadcast - Deadline] [Danish Broadcast radio programme Orientering] [CEBI news -Non-technical summary]
With Mikkel Aagaard Houmark, Cecilie Marie Løchte Jørgensen & Miriam Gensowski
European Economic Review, 2024 vol. 170
We study how children's socio-emotional skills and well-being in adolescence are affected by longer parental care during infancy. Exploiting a Danish reform that extended paid parental leave in 2002 and effectively delayed children's entry into formal out-of-home care, we show that longer leave increases adolescent conscientiousness, emotional stability, and well-being, and reduces school absenteeism. The effects are strongest for children of mothers who would have taken short leave in the absence of the reform. For this group, longer leave also increases school grades and reduces the risk of getting a psychiatric diagnosis. This highlights how time spent with a parent is particularly productive during very early childhood.
Media coverage: [Rockwool Podcast] [Radio4 Morgen] [JP: Ny forskning: Kortere orlov går ud over trivslen hos store skolebørn] [University of Copenhagen News] [Rockwool Fonden: Øremærket barsel kan forværre børns trivsel og udvikling, hvis de nye regler fører til en kortere samlet barsel] [IZA Newsroom - Non-technical summary]
Health Economics, 2021 vol. 30 No. 8, pp. 1772-1817
I show that serious, yet common, parental health events in childhood have immediate and lasting effects on mental health and educational outcomes for children. Following a parental health event, the children are more likely to receive therapy and consume anti-depressant medication. More so, the children achieve lower test scores and have lower school enrollment rates. The effect immediately occurs following the event and persists at least into early adulthood. I find that the effect on test scores doesn't differ significantly across family income, but that children from low-income families are more likely to be prescribed anti-depressants following the event, while children from high-income families are more likely to receive therapy. Exploiting differences in general practitioners' (GP) behavior in prescribing anti-depressant and referring children to therapy, I find suggestive evidence that children who are more exposed to medical treatment of mental health issues have lower educational attainments in early adulthood.
With Jens Dietrichson and Bjørn C. V. Nielsen
The Journal of Economic Surveys, 2020 vol.34 No. 5, pp.1007-1043
What are the long-term effects of universal preschool programs on child outcomes? We review 26 studies using natural experiments to estimate the effects of universal preschool programs for children aged 0-6 years on child outcomes measured from third grade to adulthood. Studies comparing preschool with parental, family, or other informal modes of care show mixed effects on test scores, and on measures related to health, well-being, and behavior. However, all estimates for outcomes related to adequate primary and secondary school progression, years of schooling, highest degree completed, employment, and earnings indicate beneficial average effects of universal preschool programs. Three of the included studies calculate benefits-to-costs ratios and find ratios clearly above one. Universal preschool tends to be more beneficial for children with low socioeconomic status, and there are not consistently different effects for boys or girls. Only three studies compare two alternative types of universal preschool programs in terms of long-term outcomes.
Ongoing work
Ongoing work
With Mette Gørtz and Tianyi Wang
While physicians are crucial to patient outcomes, what determines physician behavior and decision making remains to be understood. In this paper, we study how physicians’ family characteristics influence physicians' behavior and patient health outcomes. Using administrative data from Denmark and the natural experiment of a child's gender, we find that having daughters affects male primary care physicians' practices and the health of their female patients. Specifically, female patients cared for by male physicians with one additional daughter (compared to one additional son) are 5.5% less likely to die from female-specific cancers, including breast and gynecologic cancers. This improvement in outcomes appears to stem from enhanced cancer screening and preventive efforts, leading to earlier detection and more successful prevention. Exploring potential mechanisms, we find that male physicians with more daughters show greater attentiveness to female-specific health guidelines and are more likely to collaborate with women. We also find suggestive evidence from survey data that female patients report higher levels of trust, empathy, and clearer communication with these physicians.
Media coverage: [Weekendavisen] [Rockwool Foundation] [P1 Morgen] [Podcast: Tiden] [Podcast: Pilestrædet] [TV2 - Kosmopol] [Podcast: Sange om merværdi] [SVT]
De-specialization in health care: Evidence from mental health treatments
De-specialization in health care: Evidence from mental health treatments
With Benjamin Ly Serena
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