D4 Julkaistu kehittämis- tai tutkimusraportti tai -selvitys
Mergers and Acquisitions in the Markets for Diagnostic Services: Evidence from the Finnish Private Health Care Sector
Tekijät: Nurminen Mikko
Kustantaja: Aboa Centre for Economics
Julkaisuvuosi: 2021
Sarjan nimi: Aboa Centre for Economics Discussion papers
Numero sarjassa: 139
ISSN: 1796-3133
Verkko-osoite: http://www.ace-economics.fi/kuvat/dp139.pdf
Rinnakkaistallenteen osoite: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/Publication/51287115
Health care markets in developed countries have become increasingly concentrated, while at the same time there has been an increasing trend of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in these markets. I study the impact of M&As in the diagnostic procedure market, a market that is an important part of the health care industry and patient care, but has received little attention in this context. I use detailed nationwide register data from the Finnish private health care sector. My difference-in-difference estimates show that M&As increased prices in blood tests in both the acquiring and acquired units, but not in X-rays and MRIs. I additionally estimate a patient demand model that reveals that prices have little impact on the choice of provider while the referring physician's influence is large, potentially contributing to the firms' ability to increase their price margins.
Ladattava julkaisu This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |