Spatial shift-share analysis as a health policy tool

Abstract

Issues related to the functioning of the healthcare sector always result in turbulent and endless discussions. Most of those voices concern: the reduction of costs, spending on healthcare, walk outs, multi-occupation of medical staff, operating and health sector entities’ debts. The criteria of economic analysis in the health sector require to look at the activities of medical units, from the perspective of the society and its char- acteristics that determine them, and taking into account the effects connected with the geographic diversification of the management, financing and organization of the health- care system. The aim of this paper is to apply the spatial shift-share methods that are based on information about of the structural changes of economic and social phenomena, developed in geographic space, within a specified period of time, to analyze the state of the health sector. The attempt to identify regional trends in the health care sector, depending on the sector's major characteristics, will be made. The analysis also aims to identify areas and determinants of health care sector that may play a key role in specialization and the development of the regions.