Using a panel data set of Indian states between 1983-84 and 2011-12, this paper studies the impact of public health expenditure on the infant mortality rate (IMR), after controlling for other relevant covariates like per capita income, female literacy, and urbanization. We find that public expenditure on health care reduces IMR. Our baseline specification shows that an increase in public health expenditure by 1 percent of state-level GDP is associated with a reduction in the IMR by about 8 infant deaths per 1000 live births. We also find that female literacy and urbanization reduces the IMR.JEL Codes: E12, E20.

The question of gender differences in agricultural productivity has received particular attention in the development literature. The stylized fact that women produce less than men, while on average occupying smaller farms, presents a quandary as it is also a stylized fact that smaller farms have higher yields per unit of area. Using data from the 2006 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey, this study examines whether there is a gap in output per acre between men and women farmers in Kenya. Using ordinary and two-stage least-squares (OLS and 2SLS) analyses, it shows that when crop choice is taken into account, women are as productive as men. Specifically, the study finds that market-oriented crops are the source of differences. This suggests that further research into what determines crop choice is needed, in addition to policy that ensures that women have the same access as men to support for market-oriented crops.

-07. MEASUREMENTS: Total and healthcare-related deficiency citations for each facility were obtained from the Online Survey, Certification, and Reporting file. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the association between obesity (body mass index (BMI) 30.0-39.9 kg/m 2 ) and morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40.0 kg/m 2 ) separately and admission to facilities with more deficiencies. RESULTS: NHs that admitted a higher proportion of morbidly obese residents were more likely to have more deficiencies, whether total or healthcare related. These NHs also had greater odds of having severe deficiencies, or falling in the top quartile ranking of total deficiencies. After sequentially controlling for the choice of facilities within the inspection region, resident characteristics, and facility covariates, the association between morbid obesity and admission to higher-deficiency NHs persisted. CONCLUSION: Residents with morbid obesity were more likely to be admitted to NHs of poorer quality based on deficiency citations. The factors driving these disparities and their impact on the care of obese NH residents require further elucidation.

PurposeApproximately 40% of men and 60% of women sustain an injury during U.S. Army basic combat training (BCT). These injuries impose significant costs on the Army. However, the economic costs of BCT-related injuries have never been quantified. This study estimated the direct medical costs to the Army of BCT-related injuries.MethodsThe Total Army Injury and Health Outcomes Database (TAIHOD) was used to identify medical encounters for a cohort of trainees who started BCT from 2002 to 2007. Injury-related medical encounters were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) diagnosis and procedure codes. Total direct medical cost per trainee was calculated by summing inpatient and outpatient costs. Injury related medical costs were estimated using an incremental cost analysis whereby medical costs of injured trainees were compared to medical costs of uninjured trainees, controlling for potential confounding variables using multiple regression.ResultsOverall, the Army spent an average of $1200 on medical care per trainee over the study period. Injury status was the single largest predictor of costs. The mean medical cost per injured trainee was $1755, compared to $795 per non-injured trainee. Thus, for each injured trainee, the Army spent an additional $960, on average. After adjusting for other factors that affect costs, the mean additional cost of injury was estimated to be $872, which amounted to approximately $22 million per year. Mean costs varied by trainee characteristics, type of injury, and training location.ConclusionsBCT-related injuries impose enormous economic costs on the US Army. Variation in medical costs across training locations suggests that treatment practices also may vary. Further research is needed to identify specific factors that contribute to increased costs at certain locations and opportunities for reducing costs.Significance and Contribution to ScienceThis study provides a baseline estimate of the direct medical costs of BCT-related injuries.

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