Publication: Analyzing Markets for Health Workers : Insights from Labor and Health Economics
Date
2014-06-23
ISSN
Published
2014-06-23
Author(s)
McPake, Barbara
Scott, Anthony
Edoka, Ijeoma
Abstract
The aim of this publication is to
examine how labor and health economics can be used to
analyze and better understand the role and functions of
health worker labor markets. Health workforce shortages stem
not only from inadequate overall supply, but also from
suboptimal allocation of health human resources by location
and role. Low performance and productivity are also issues.
These three problems are often compounded by a resource
problem - the gap between the finances required for an
adequate workforce and those likely available. The
application of labor economics to health care labor markets
needs to account for the specific institutional features and
market failures in health care. The document is organized as
follows: first section gives introduction, the second
section sets out a broad framework that needs to be used
when examining health care labor markets. The third section
summarizes the key issues surrounding the demand and supply
of health workers and how these interact in the health
worker labor market. The fourth section summarizes the broad
analytical approaches used in economics, focusing on issues
of causality and labor market dynamics. The final section
suggests some gaps in research and analysis for health
worker labor markets in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Citation
“McPake, Barbara; Scott, Anthony; Edoka, Ijeoma. 2014. Analyzing Markets for Health Workers : Insights from Labor and Health Economics. Directions in Development--Human Development;. © Washington, DC: World Bank. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/18780 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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