{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.022887323943661973, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.727810650887574, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
More physicians: improved availability or induced demand?

A number of empirical studies have shown that there is a negative association between population:physician ratio and utilization of medical services. However, it is not clear whether this relationship reflects supplier-inducement, the effect of lower prices on patient demand, a supply response to variation in health status, or improved availability. In Norway, patient fees and state reimbursement fees are set centrally. Therefore, the correlation between utilization and population:physician ratio either reflects supplier-inducement, a supply response or an availability effect. We applied a theoretical model which distinguished between an inducement and an availability effect. The model was implemented on a cross-sectional data set which contained information about patient visits and laboratory tests for all fee-for-service primary care physicians in Norway. Since population:physician ratio is potentially endogenous, an instrumental variable approach is used. We found no evidence for inducement either for number of visits or for provision of laboratory services.