|
Login
Communications Center
Home
>
Academic News & Events
>
How Robust are Health Rankings? Testing Different Assumptions about Weights and Aggregation | Research Colloquium
How Robust are Health Rankings? Testing Different Assumptions about Weights and Aggregation | Research Colloquium
Contributed by:
Tamara Estep
Published:
Wednesday, 09 April 2014 8:00 AM
MILLER COLLEGE RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM
How Robust are Health Rankings? Testing Different Assumptions about Weights and Aggregation
12:00 - 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 21, 2014
Whitinger Building room 145, Hall of Fame Conference Room
RSVP
before
Monday, April 14th to Jennifer Keever at bizdean@bsu.edu
Presented by Erik Nesson
Assistant Professor of Economics
How Robust are Health Rankings? Testing Different Assumptions about Weights and Aggregation
This paper develops a new method for the measurement of population health and the ranking of the health of different geographies. Since population health is a latent variable, studies which measure and rank the health of different geographies must aggregate observable attributes of health into one summary measure. We show that the methods used in nearly all the literature to date implicitly assume that all attributes are infinitely substitutable. Our method, based on aggregation functions used in the measurement of multidimensional welfare and inequality, minimizes the entropic distance between the summary measure of population health and the distribution of the underlying. This aggregation function coincides with well-known Constant Elasticity of Substitution and Cobb-Douglas production functions and naturally allows different assumptions regarding attribute substitutability or complementarity. To compare methodologies, we utilize a well-known ranking of the health status of U.S. states, America's Health Rankings. We find that states' rankings are somewhat sensitive to changes in the weight given to each attribute, but very sensitive to changes in aggregation methodology. Our results have broad implications for well-known ranks of national health care systems, such as the 2000 World Health Report, as well as the measurement of health inequality.
About Erik Nesson
Erik Nesson, assistant professor of economics, received his Ph.D. from Emory University in 2012 and joined Ball State University in the same year. His research interests include health economics, applied microeconometrics, law and economics, and labor economics. Nesson’s current projects include examining the effects of tobacco control policies on smoking behaviors, measuring the causal relationship between substance use and risky sexual behaviors, and examining the measurement of aggregate health and its use in policy evaluation.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Miller College Research Colloquia Series 2014
Date | Presenter
All colloquia are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and
meet in Whitinger Building, room 145
April 23, Wednesday| Marcus Wolfe
About this site
Frequently asked questions
Message archive
Manage my subscriptions
Manage emergency text
RSS feeds
Other news sources
Feedback
Publish content
Categories
Communications Center
Top Stories
Academics
Academic Opportunities
Academic News & Events
Community Engagement
Research & Programs
Survey Participation
University Libraries
Academic Colleges
Applied Sciences & Technology
Architecture & Planning
Business
Communication & Media
Fine Arts
Health
Sciences & Humanities
Teachers College
Arts, Culture, & Entertainment
Art
Emens Auditorium
Late Nite
Music
Theater & Dance
University Program Board
Museum of Art
Other Entertainment
Athletics
Baseball
Basketball - Men's
Basketball - Women's
Cross Country & Track - Women's
Field Hockey
Football
Golf - Men's
Golf - Women's
Gymnastics
Soccer - Women's
Softball
Swimming & Diving - Men's
Swimming & Diving - Women's
Tennis - Women's
Tennis - Men's
Volleyball - Men's
Volleyball - Women's
Campus Bulletin Board
Kudos
For Sale or Lease
Wanted
Lost & found
Office supplies
Rideshare
Career Development
For Students
For Faculty & Staff
Employee News & Events
Accounting
Bookstore
Human Resources
Payroll & Employee Benefits
Purchasing
Receptions
Shopping & Sightseeing Trips
Travel Office
Other
Family Activities
For Families
For Children
Fitness & Health
Working Well Program
Counseling Center
Miscellaneous
Housing & Dining
Announcements & Menus
Housing News & Events
University Catering
Immersive Learning
Immersive Learning News
International
Study Abroad Opportunities
News & Events
Parking & Facilities
Campus Traffic Notices
Parking Lot Closings
Power or Water Outages
Other Announcements
Recreation Services
General Rec Services
Aquatics & Pool Safety
Fitness Centers
Fitness Programs
Intramural Sports
Outdoor Pursuits/Climbing
Rec Facilities/Open Recreation
Wellness/Special Events
Youth & Family
Student Services
Bursar
Financial aid
General Student Info
Multicultural Center
Registrar
Student Organizations
Technology
Security Alerts
News & Announcements
Events
Instructional Technologies
Sitecore CMS
Training & Workshops
For Students
For Faculty & Staff
University Governance
Senate
Staff Council
Student Government Association