The study investigated the determinants of households' choice of health care provider in Nigeria. Individual and household based questionnaires were used for the study. Using a multinomial logit model, the findings revealed that both distance and money prices are significant factors in discouraging individuals from seeking modem health care services but money prices was less important as a determinant of the choice of health care provider. And from the descriptive analysis, money price was a major reason why many low income households opted for the self-care option. Furthermore, the study showed that older people tend to patronize public and private hospitals.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not government health care spending reduces the poor‐rich differences in health status. Specifically, it aims to assess the health status of the poor vis‐à‐vis government health spending in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachRegression analysis was carried out using the Ordinary Least Square method of estimation while secondary data was used.FindingsIt was found that despite the increase in most components of health care spending in Nigeria, the health status of the average Nigerian and the condition of health infrastructure has not improved appreciably. Also, the poor have significantly worse health status than the non‐poor and they (the poor) are more strongly affected by public spending on health care relative to the non‐poor. Thus, the difference in impact of spending between the poor and the non‐poor could be substantial.Originality/valueThis study provides information that will help reposition policies on government spending, especially on health care, so as to enhance and improve the heath status of the poor in Nigeria, thereby reducing the poor‐rich differences in health status.

This study uses multivariate cointegration, error-correction modelling and variance decomposition to analyse the causal relationship between tourism and economic growth in Jamaica. The study finds, among other things, that there is a long-run positive relationship between economic growth and tourism. An increase in tourism receipts tends to have a positive impact on GDP. Current GDP is influenced by past values of GDP and those of tourism receipts, whereas tourism receipts are influenced only by their past values. Thus, policies that are geared towards attracting more tourists should be promoted, as this will lead not only to an increase in tourism receipts but also to an increase in the overall economic growth of Jamaica.

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