Evidence on the determinants of Canadian provincial government health expenditures: 1965-1991

Real per capita provincial government expenditures on health care over the period 1965-1991 are examined using pooled time-series cross-section regression analysis. Key determinants of real per capita provincial government expenditures on health care over the period 1965-1991 are real provincial per capita income, the proportion of the provincial population over age 65 and real provincial per capita federal transfer revenues. Established program financing had a negative and significant impact on real per capita provincial government health expenditures in Newfoundland and Quebec, An income elasticity of 0.77 implies that health care is not a luxury good. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.