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Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

LocationRoom BZ E4.23, Universitätsplatz 1 - Piazza Università, 1, 39100 Bozen-Bolzano

Departments Press and Events

Contact Monika Bauer
SchoolofEconomics@unibz.it

22 Jan 2018 11:00-12:00

Bismarck's Health Insurance and the Mortality Decline

LocationRoom BZ E4.23, Universitätsplatz 1 - Piazza Università, 1, 39100 Bozen-Bolzano

Departments Press and Events

Contact Monika Bauer
SchoolofEconomics@unibz.it

We investigate the impact on mortality of the world's first compulsory health insurance, established by Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of the German Empire, in 1884. Difference-in-differences strategies using Prussian administrative panel data yield negative effects of Bismarck’s health insurance on mortality. The results are largely driven by a decline of deaths from infectious diseases, in particular tuberculosis.

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