International differences in the impact of doctors on health: a multilevel analysis of OECD countries

Abstract

This paper aims to measure whether there are country variations in the efficiency of the physician workforce in reducing various measures of mortality across 21 OECD countries over 3 decades. It utilises a multilevel modelling approach both to measure country variations in physician efficiency and to explore the determinants of these variations. The results suggested that physician numbers are an important determinant of mortality across OECD countries, and cross-country heterogeneity in the effect of physician availability on health is significant. We also found that availability of advanced medical technology is an important factor intervening in this relationship.