Gastar en Cuidados Médicos: ¿Es un Lujo para los Montevideanos?

Abstract

Using data from de Survey of Households Expenditures (1982-1983 and 1994-1995) of the Instituto Nacional de Estadística we estimates Engel Curves for a series of health expenditure. It is possible to affirm for 1994-1995 that the total expenditure in health care are a luxury good for people from Montevideo. Analyzing some specific components the same characteristic is observed for medications, not being able to reject the hypothesis that the expenditures on IAMC and mobile emergencies are necessary goods.