Economic Consequences of Hospital Closures / Diane E. Alexander, Michael R. Richards.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Alexander, Diane E.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Richards, Michael R.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w29110.

NBER working paper series no. w29110

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2021.

Summary:

Hospitals anchor much of US health care and receive a third of all medical spending, including various subsidies. Nevertheless, some become insolvent and exit the market. Research has documented subsequent access problems; however, less is understood about broader implications. We examine over 100 rural hospital closures spanning 2005-2017 to quantify the effects on the local economy. We find sharp and persistent reductions in employment, but these localize to health care occupations and are more impactful in areas experiencing complete closures. Aggregate consumer financial health and housing markets appear unaffected by the shuttering of a rural hospital.

Notes:

Print version record

July 2021.