Copayments for Ambulatory Care in Germany: A Natural Experiment Using a Difference-in-Difference Approach

ABSTRACTA ban on smoking in cars with children was implemented in April 2015 in England and December 2016 in Scotland. With survey data from both countries (NEngland=3,483-6,920 and NScotland=232-319), we used this natural experiment to assess the impact of the ban using a difference-in-differences approach. We conducted logistic regression analyses within a Difference-in-Difference framework and adjusted for age, sex, a marker of deprivation and survey weighting for non-response. Among children aged 13-15 years, self-reported levels of regular exposure to smoke in cars were 3.4% in 2012, 2.2% in 2014 and 1.3% in 2016 for Scotland and 6.3%, 5.9% and 1.6% in England. The ban was associated with a 73% reduction (95%CI -59%, -81%) in self-reported exposure to tobacco smoke among children.

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Anti-Crime Laws and Retail Prices

Review of Law & Economics ◽

10.1515/rle-2016-0003 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hakan Yilmazkuday

Keyword(s):

Natural Experiment ◽

Retail Trade ◽

Gasoline Prices ◽

Control Group ◽

Recent Experience ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

Sacramento County ◽

Retail Prices ◽

Additional Costs ◽

Security Surveillance

AbstractThe fear of becoming a victim of crime acts as a barrier to retail trade for consumers, where retailers attempt to reduce such barriers by enduring additional costs such as insurance or security/surveillance; as a result, retail prices are affected by the possibility of crime. This paper attempts to measure such effects by considering the recent experience of Sacramento County in California, where an anti-panhandling ordinance has been issued to protect retailers. As an application, a difference-in-difference approach is employed to identify the effects of the ordinance on Sacramento gasoline prices at the retail level, by considering the gasoline prices in neighboring counties as the control group of a natural experiment. The results show that the anti-panhandling ordinance has resulted in lower gasoline prices in Sacramento County.

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Does Mediation-Arbitration Reduce Arbitration Rates? Evidence from a Natural Experiment

ILR Review ◽

10.1177/0019793918810219 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

pp. 211-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michele Campolieti ◽

Chris Riddell

Keyword(s):

Dispute Resolution ◽

Natural Experiment ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

Canadian Province ◽

Difference Estimator

To study the effect of the introduction of mediation-arbitration as a dispute resolution procedure on interest arbitration, the authors exploit a natural experiment in the arbitration institutions for police and firefighter sectors in the Canadian province of Ontario. They obtain estimates using a difference-in-difference estimator. Results show that the introduction of mediation-arbitration is significantly associated with increased use of arbitration by firefighters relative to the police. The article also draws on interviews with stakeholders to help explain the mechanisms that contribute to the increase in arbitration rates.

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Does board independence substitute for external audit quality? Evidence from an exogenous regulatory shock

Australian Journal of Management ◽

10.1177/0312896217712334 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 27-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Pornsit Jiraporn ◽

Pandej Chintrakarn ◽

Shenghui Tong ◽

Sirimon Treepongkaruna

Keyword(s):

Natural Experiment ◽

Audit Quality ◽

Causal Effect ◽

Board Independence ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

External Audit ◽

Effective Governance ◽

Sarbanes Oxley ◽

Big 4 ◽

Quality Evidence

Exploiting the passage of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) as an exogenous regulatory shock, we investigate whether board independence substitutes for external audit quality. Based on over 14,000 observations across 18 years, our difference-in-difference estimates show that firms forced to raise board independence are far less likely to employ a Big 4 auditor. In particular, board independence lowers the propensity to use a Big 4 auditor by approximately 38%. Firms with stronger board independence enjoy more effective governance and therefore do not need as much external audit quality as those with less effective governance do. Based on a natural experiment, our empirical strategy is far less vulnerable to endogeneity and is thus considerably more likely to show a causal effect, rather than merely an association.

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Impact of a telemonitoring intervention in patients with chronic heart failure in Germany: A difference-in-difference matching approach using real-world data

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x20984024 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1357633X2098402

Author(s):

Stefan Rabbe ◽

Carl R Blankart ◽

Wolfgang-Michael Franz ◽

Lutz Hager ◽

Jonas Schreyögg

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Chronic Heart Failure ◽

Ambulatory Care ◽

Real World ◽

Healthcare Utilisation ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

Real World Data ◽

World Data ◽

Observational Cohort ◽

Hospital Stays

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a non-invasive telemonitoring intervention on mortality, healthcare costs, and hospital and pharmaceutical utilisation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of a large statutory health insurer in Germany. Methods In a retrospective observational cohort study using real-world data, we assessed differences between 635 patients who received a telemonitoring intervention versus 635 receiving usual care covering 36 months after intervention. We used propensity score matching on a set of 102 parameters collected in the 24-month pre-intervention period to correct for observed differences, as well as difference-in-difference (DiD) estimators to account for unobserved differences. We analysed the effect of the intervention for up to three years on (i) all-cause mortality; (ii) costs (i.e. inpatient stays, ambulatory care, pharmaceuticals, and medical aids and appliances); and (iii) healthcare utilisation (i.e. length and number of hospital stays, number of prescriptions). Results DiD estimates suggest lower inpatient costs of the telemonitoring group of up to €1160 (95% confidence interval (CI): –2253 to –69) in year three. Ambulatory care costs increased significantly in all three years up to €316 (95% CI: 1267 to 505) per year. Telemonitoring had a positive effect on survival (hazard ratio = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.51 to 0.99) and increased the number of prescriptions for diuretics. Effects were more prominent for patients with severe CHF. Discussion The study suggests that the telemonitoring intervention led to a significant decrease in mortality and a shift in costs from the inpatient to the ambulatory care sector 36 months after intervention.

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Impact of the statutory concessionary travel scheme on bus travel among older people: a natural experiment from England

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x19000692 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (11) ◽

pp. 2480-2494

Author(s):

Elise Whitley ◽

Peter Craig ◽

Frank Popham

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Social Participation ◽

Natural Experiment ◽

Global Financial Crisis ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

The Global Financial Crisis

AbstractIn the context of worldwide ageing, increasing numbers of older people are lonely, isolated and excluded, with serious implications for health, and cognitive and physical functioning. Access to good public transport can improve mobility and social participation among older adults, and policies that improve access and promote use, such as concessionary travel schemes, are potentially important in promoting healthy and successful ageing. Concessionary travel schemes for older people are in place in many countries but are under threat following the global financial crisis. Evidence regarding their success in encouraging activity and social participation is generally positive but based largely on qualitative or observational associations and, in particular, is often limited by the lack of appropriate comparison groups. We use changes in the English statutory scheme, in particular the rising eligibility age from 2010 onwards, as a natural experiment to explore its impact on older people's travel. A difference-in-difference-in-difference analysis of National Travel Surveys (2002–2016) compares three age groups differentially affected by eligibility criteria: 50–59 years (consistently ineligible), 60–64 years (decreasing eligibility from 2010) and 65–74 years (consistently eligible). Compared with 50–59-year-olds, bus travel by 60–74-year-olds increased year-on-year from 2002 to 2010 then fell following rises in eligibility age (annual change in weekly bus travel: −2.9 per cent (−4.1%, −1.7%) in 60–74- versus 50–59-year-olds). Results were consistent across gender, occupation and rurality. Our results indicate that access to, specifically, free travel increases bus use and access to services among older people, potentially improving mobility, social participation and health. However, the rising eligibility age in England has led to a reduction in bus travel in older people, including those not directly affected by the change, demonstrating that the positive impact of the concession goes beyond those who are eligible. Future work should explore the cost–benefit trade-off of this and similar schemes worldwide.

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The Value of Name in the Housing Market: Evidence from South Korea's New Address System

Journal of Real Estate Research ◽

10.22300/0896-5803.41.4.669 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 669-691

Author(s):

Kyoochul Kim

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Housing Market ◽

Natural Experiment ◽

Conspicuous Consumption ◽

Physical Structure ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

Difference Model ◽

Good Opportunity ◽

Address System ◽

Market Premium

In this paper, I examine the existence of a housing market premium placed on names of locations or areas in Seoul, South Korea. In 2014, South Korea changed its method of assigning addresses. That provides a good opportunity for a natural experiment to explore the importance of name value in how property is perceived. Using a difference-in-difference model, I explore the effect of name premium on apartment prices in the Gangnam district in southern Seoul. I find that apartment prices for a prestigious section of Gangnam comparatively declines when their area location is no longer apparent in revised address listings. This would be evidence of conspicuous consumption since the physical structure of the property is unchanged.

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Reducing mommy penalties with daddy quotas

Journal of European Social Policy ◽

10.1177/0958928720963324 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 095892872096332

Author(s):

Allison Dunatchik ◽

Berkay Özcan

Keyword(s):

Natural Experiment ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Labour Force ◽

Full Time ◽

Labour Force Survey ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

Paternity Leave ◽

Percentage Points ◽

Sensitivity Tests ◽

Part Time

This paper investigates whether daddy quotas – non-transferable paternity leave policies – mitigate motherhood penalties women face in the labour market. Using the introduction of a daddy quota in Quebec, Canada as a natural experiment, we employ labour force survey data to conduct a difference-in-difference estimation of the policy’s impact on a range of mothers’ career outcomes, using mothers in the neighbouring province of Ontario as a comparison group. The results suggest Quebec mothers exposed to the policy are 5 percentage points more likely to participate in the labour force and to work full time, 5 percentage points less likely to work part time, and 4 percentage points less likely to be unemployed than they would have been in the absence of the policy. Our results are robust to an alternative semi-parametric difference-in-difference methodology and to a battery of placebo and sensitivity tests. However, we find that the policy’s effects are largest 2 to 3 years post-reform, reducing in size and significance thereafter, raising questions about the durability of such effects.

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