Health Production Functions: Effects of Socioeconomic and Lifestyle Factors on Health Status

We propose a thorough investigation into the socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of individual level health and health production in Australia, using advanced microeconometric techniques and unit-record data from the comprehensive national and Victorian health surveys. We examine empirical relationships relating lifestyle decisions, medical service utilization and various measures of health status. We also endeavor to link the micro-level econometric findings to existing economic studies of the Australian health sector to evaluate macro-level economic and policy implications. The results will inform Government health policies and promotion campaigns.