Price dispersion in an online health marketplace: evidence from telemedicine services in China

Jia Xiang; Terence C. Cheng; Hongqiao Fu; Winnie Yip

doi:10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111435

Price dispersion in an online health marketplace: evidence from telemedicine services in China

Jia Xiang, Terence C. Cheng, Hongqiao Fu, Winnie Yip

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Online health care marketplaces have emerged with the adoption of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its readily available information on price and quality, we document substantial price dispersion for telemedicine services in China's internet health market. We further examine the sources of such price variation: observable characteristics of physicians, hospitals, and local markets explain slightly over half of this variation. The un- explained portion is greater for physician specialties where search frictions are likely larger.

Original language	English
Article number	111435
Number of pages	3
Journal	Economics Letters
Volume	234
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111435
Publication status	Published - Jan 2024
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

China
Internet health care
Price dispersion
Price variation

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10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111435

Cite this

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title = "Price dispersion in an online health marketplace: evidence from telemedicine services in China",

abstract = "Online health care marketplaces have emerged with the adoption of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its readily available information on price and quality, we document substantial price dispersion for telemedicine services in China's internet health market. We further examine the sources of such price variation: observable characteristics of physicians, hospitals, and local markets explain slightly over half of this variation. The un- explained portion is greater for physician specialties where search frictions are likely larger.",

keywords = "China, Internet health care, Price dispersion, Price variation",

author = "Jia Xiang and Cheng, {Terence C.} and Hongqiao Fu and Winnie Yip",

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year = "2024",

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AU - Xiang, Jia

AU - Cheng, Terence C.

AU - Fu, Hongqiao

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N2 - Online health care marketplaces have emerged with the adoption of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its readily available information on price and quality, we document substantial price dispersion for telemedicine services in China's internet health market. We further examine the sources of such price variation: observable characteristics of physicians, hospitals, and local markets explain slightly over half of this variation. The un- explained portion is greater for physician specialties where search frictions are likely larger.

AB - Online health care marketplaces have emerged with the adoption of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its readily available information on price and quality, we document substantial price dispersion for telemedicine services in China's internet health market. We further examine the sources of such price variation: observable characteristics of physicians, hospitals, and local markets explain slightly over half of this variation. The un- explained portion is greater for physician specialties where search frictions are likely larger.

KW - China

KW - Internet health care

KW - Price dispersion

KW - Price variation

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DO - 10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111435

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VL - 234

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ER -

Price dispersion in an online health marketplace: evidence from telemedicine services in China

Abstract

Keywords

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