Health, insurance and expenditures: four essays in empirical health economics

Dissertation, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 2016 This cumulative thesis contributes to the contemporary empirical health economics literature and enhances knowledge on managing health systems and policies. First, we assess the impact of ageing on health care expenditures. Second, the role of memorisation ability in preventive activities is emphasized. Third, we critically discuss methods that are used to detect selection into insurance markets, and fourth, we empirically reveal the interplay of formal and informal risk sharing mechanisms.