Will the real elasticity of substitution ‘in Norwegian dentistry’ please stand up?

Abstract

The non-homothetic production cost structure in Norwegian private dentistry involves more than two factor inputs. Consequently, this paper implements-separately for solo and group practices-three conceptually different measures of factor substitutions to infer the precise nature of input associations using translog cost model estimates based on 1993 data. We calculate own- and cross-price elasticities of factor demands, pairwise elasticities of substitution and their approximate S.E.s. We find that: (1) dentists and dental assistants cannot be consistently aggregated as one homogeneous labour input; (2) input demands are inelastic; (3) the theoretically restrictive Allen-Uzawa and the less restrictive shadow and Morishima elasticities of substitution are not equivalent; (4) dentists and auxiliary dental personnel relate as significant substitutes in solo practices and as significant complements in group practices; (5) 'supplies' (e.g., dental materials) in the aggregate are substitutes for the two types of dentistry labour; and (6) there appears to be a wider scope for factor substitutions in group rather than solo practices. Due to inelastic factor demands, opportunities for cost controls are limited despite some tendencies for factor interchange. Finally, future researchers of production costs involving more than two inputs should investigate the less restrictive, alternative measures of factor substitutions.

Are Factor Substitutions in HMO Industry Operations Cost Saving?

“…That is, given the production technology structure of HMOs at constant output and the corresponding cost function, to what extent can cost savings be realized when relative factor prices change? Policy-driven estimates of the scopes for factor interchange exist for the health care services of general hospitals (Cowing and Holtmann 1983), physician practices (Escarce and Pauly 1998), hospital pharmacies (Okunade 1993(Okunade ,2001, specialized hospital pharmacies (Okunade and Suraratdecha 1998), nursing (Eastaugh 1990), and outpatient dentistry (Okunade 1999). Despite the broad significance of the HMO industry, there is currently no similar study based on more recent data.…”