Author
Luigi Siciliani
Other affiliations: Center for Economic and Policy Research, Economic Policy Institute
Bio: Luigi Siciliani is an academic researcher from University of York. The author has contributed to research in topics: Quality (business) & Competition (economics). The author has an hindex of 40, co-authored 194 publications receiving 4750 citations. Previous affiliations of Luigi Siciliani include Center for Economic and Policy Research & Economic Policy Institute.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
More filters
TL;DR: It is found that waiting times may be reduced by acting on the supply of or on the demand for surgery (or both), and preliminary evidence suggests that an increase in private health insurance coverage may reduce waiting times.
264 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of competition on quality in hospital markets with regulated prices was analyzed, considering both introducing competition and increasing competition through either lower transportation costs (increased substitutability) or a higher number of hospitals.
Abstract: We analyse the effect of competition on quality in hospital markets with regulated prices, considering the effect of both introducing competition (monopoly versus competition) and increasing competition through either lower transportation costs (increased substitutability) or a higher number of hospitals. With semi-altruistic providers and a fairly general cost structure, we show that the relationship between competition and quality is generally ambiguous. In contrast to the received body of theoretical literature, this is consistent with, and potentially explains, the mixed empirical evidence.
235 citations
TL;DR: Common measures of waiting times from administrative data across OECD countries are described, focusing on common elective procedures, such as hip and knee replacement, and cataract surgery, where waiting times are notoriously long.
184 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: Waiting times for publicly-funded elective surgery are a major health policy concern in many OECD countries but are not a concern in others; a comparative analysis of these two groups of countries is found.
Abstract: Waiting times for elective surgery are a significant health policy concern in approximately half of all OECD countries. The main objectives of the OECD Waiting Times project were to: i) review policy initiatives to reduce waiting times in 12 OECD countries; and ii) to investigate the causes of variations in waiting times for non-emergency surgery across countries. The first objective was addressed in an earlier report (Hurst and Siciliani, 2003; OECD Health Working paper, n.6). This report is devoted to the second objective. An interesting feature of OECD countries is that while some countries report significant waiting, others do not. Waiting times are a serious health policy issue in the 12 countries involved in this project (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). Waiting times are not recorded administratively in a second group of countries ... Dans pres de la moitie des pays de l’OCDE, les delais d’attente pour les interventions chirurgicales non urgentes constituent un important sujet de preoccupation pour les responsables de la politique de la sante. Le projet de l’OCDE sur ce sujet vise principalement les objectifs suivants : i) examiner les initiatives prises par les pouvoirs publics en vue de reduire ces delais d’attente dans douze pays Membres ; ii) rechercher les causes des differences observees d’un pays a l’autre quant a ces delais. Un precedent rapport a ete consacre au premier de ces objectifs (Hurst et Siciliani, 2003 ; document de travail de l’OCDE sur la sante, n°6). Le present document porte sur le second objectif. Il est interessant de noter que, si certains pays de l’OCDE font etat de delais d’attente non negligeables, ce n’est pas le cas pour d’autres. Ces delais posent un epineux probleme de fond en matiere de sante dans les douze pays qui participent au projet ...
161 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the waiting-time phenomenon and provide a comparative analysis of policies to tackle waiting times across 12 OECD countries and find that patients are quite tolerant of short and moderate waiting times, although the general public often expresses more concern about waiting.
Abstract: Waiting times for elective (non-urgent) surgery are a main health policy concern in approximately half of OECD countries. Mean waiting times for elective surgical procedures are above three months in several countries and maximum waiting times can stretch into years. They generate dissatisfaction for the patients and among the general public. Is there a solution? This report discusses the waiting-time phenomenon and provides a comparative analysis of policies to tackle waiting times across 12 OECD countries.At worst, waiting times can lead to deterioration in health, loss of utility and extra costs. However, one surprising result is that there is little evidence of health deterioration from a review of studies of patients waiting for a few months for different elective procedures across a range of countries. Moreover, such patients are quite tolerant of short and moderate waits, although the general public often expresses more concern about waiting.It is argued that there will be both ...
144 citations
Cited by
More filters
01 May 1975
TL;DR: The Fundamentals of Queueing Theory, Fourth Edition as discussed by the authors provides a comprehensive overview of simple and more advanced queuing models, with a self-contained presentation of key concepts and formulae.
Abstract: Praise for the Third Edition: "This is one of the best books available. Its excellent organizational structure allows quick reference to specific models and its clear presentation . . . solidifies the understanding of the concepts being presented."IIE Transactions on Operations EngineeringThoroughly revised and expanded to reflect the latest developments in the field, Fundamentals of Queueing Theory, Fourth Edition continues to present the basic statistical principles that are necessary to analyze the probabilistic nature of queues. Rather than presenting a narrow focus on the subject, this update illustrates the wide-reaching, fundamental concepts in queueing theory and its applications to diverse areas such as computer science, engineering, business, and operations research.This update takes a numerical approach to understanding and making probable estimations relating to queues, with a comprehensive outline of simple and more advanced queueing models. Newly featured topics of the Fourth Edition include:Retrial queuesApproximations for queueing networksNumerical inversion of transformsDetermining the appropriate number of servers to balance quality and cost of serviceEach chapter provides a self-contained presentation of key concepts and formulae, allowing readers to work with each section independently, while a summary table at the end of the book outlines the types of queues that have been discussed and their results. In addition, two new appendices have been added, discussing transforms and generating functions as well as the fundamentals of differential and difference equations. New examples are now included along with problems that incorporate QtsPlus software, which is freely available via the book's related Web site.With its accessible style and wealth of real-world examples, Fundamentals of Queueing Theory, Fourth Edition is an ideal book for courses on queueing theory at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners who analyze congestion in the fields of telecommunications, transportation, aviation, and management science.
2,562 citations
TL;DR: In this editorial, some first insights into this willingness to be vaccinated are provided, based on a multi-country European study.
Abstract: In this editorial, we provide some first insights into this willingness to be vaccinated, based on a multi-country European study
716 citations
TL;DR: Cautious conclusions are that public provision may be potentially more efficient than private, in certain settings, and some criteria for assessing the use and usefulness of efficiency studies are established, to help both researchers and those assessing whether or not to act upon published results.
Abstract: The measurement of efficiency and productivity of health service delivery has become a small industry. This is a review of 317 published papers on frontier efficiency measurement. The techniques used are mainly based on non-parametric data envelopment analysis, but there is increasing use of parametric techniques, such as stochastic frontier analysis. Applications to hospitals and other health care organizations and areas are reviewed and summarised, and some meta-type analysis undertaken. Cautious conclusions are that public provision may be potentially more efficient than private, in certain settings. The paper also considers conceptualizations of efficiency, and points to dangers and opportunities in generating such information. Finally, some criteria for assessing the use and usefulness of efficiency studies are established, with a view to helping both researchers and those assessing whether or not to act upon published results.
695 citations