Authors: Kankaanranta, Terhi¹; Vainiomäki, Jari²; Autio, Ville; Halila, Hannu³; Hyppölä, Harri⁴; Isokoski, Mauri¹; Kujala, Santero³; Kumpusalo, Esko⁴; Mattila, Kari⁵; Virjo, Irma⁶; Vänskä, Jukka³; Rissanen, Pekka¹

Source: Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Volume 5, Number 2, 2006 , pp. 125-136(12)

Publisher: Adis International

Abstract:

Objective: To analyse factors affecting physicians' choice to work in either the public or the private sector.

Method: We undertook a longitudinal data analysis in the years 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003 (n = 12 909) using a multilevel modelling technique. Factors related to economic factors, physician identity, appreciation as well as demographic factors were hypothesised to influence sector choice.

Results: Physicians seem to make their career choices prior to graduation, at least to some extent. Wage levels, the physician's personal characteristics and whether or not the physician knew his or her place of work before graduation were the key factors affecting the decision-making process in the years 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003. Physicians for whom wages were important were less likely to choose the public sector. Also, physicians who regarded themselves as entrepreneurial preferred to work in the private sector. If a physician had worked in the public sector during his or her medical training before graduation, the probability of applying for a vacancy in the public sector was higher.

Conclusion: It is not only economic factors, such as salary, that are involved in the physician's decision to choose the working sector.

Keywords: Health care services; Health economics

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: 1 Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland 2: 2 Department of Economics and Accounting, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland 3: 4 Finnish Medical Association, Helsinki, Finland 4: 5 Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio, Kuopio University Hospital, General Practice, Kuopio, Finland 5: 6 Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Centre of General Practice, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland 6: 7 Medical School, Department of General Practice, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

Publication date: 2006-01-01

More about this publication?

• Information for Authors
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Economics ,  Medicine (General)
• By this author: Kankaanranta, Terhi ;  Vainiomäki, Jari ;  Autio, Ville ;  Halila, Hannu ;  Hyppölä, Harri ;  Isokoski, Mauri ;  Kujala, Santero ;  Kumpusalo, Esko ;  Mattila, Kari ;  Virjo, Irma ;  Vänskä, Jukka ;  Rissanen, Pekka

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers