Yale University, Department of Economics, New Haven, CT, USA.
J Health Econ. 2011 Jan;30(1):43-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2010.08.008. Epub 2010 Sep 16.
This paper uses data on real and perceived cancer risks and cancer screening behavior to test the allocative efficiency theory. Specifically, it explores whether the educated make better-informed health decisions. I propose that (1) when educated individuals are better informed, they are more likely to incorporate variation in risk factors when they report their personal cancer risk, and (2) as risk varies, the better educated will react more strongly by adopting preventive behaviors such as cancer screening. The results support for both predictions. Further, using data on attitudes toward breast health, I explore a possible mechanism: educated women are more receptive to scientific evidence and hold fewer nonscientific beliefs.
本文利用有关实际和感知的癌症风险及癌症筛查行为的数据，检验配置效率理论。具体而言，本文探讨了受教育程度较高的人是否能做出更明智的健康决策。我提出以下假设：(1) 当受教育程度较高的个体获得更好的信息时，他们在报告个人癌症风险时更有可能纳入风险因素的变化；(2) 随着风险的变化，受教育程度较高的人会通过采取癌症筛查等预防行为做出更强烈的反应。研究结果支持这两个预测。此外，本文还利用有关对乳房健康的态度的数据，探讨了一种可能的机制：受教育程度较高的女性更容易接受科学证据，且较少持有非科学的信念。
