Comparative research on the effects of institutional structures of health care systems is limited by the lack of comparable, detailed institutional information on the organization of health care systems. This data handbook describes the health care systems of 22 OECD countries on the basis of the institutional economics perspective, in particular from the perspective of delegation of medical as well as administrative tasks and the control mechanisms implemented in these delegation relationships, which shall avoid opportunistic behavior. On the conceptual level, the delegation-approach proved to be able to explain differences at the system level by rational individual behavior. Further, the delegation-approach offers a template by which a comparative analysis and the description of complex systems, like health systems, can be based. The data compiled in this data handbook shall enable researchers to study the impact of institutional structures on aspects of health system performance, like achievements in health levels, responsiveness and productive efficiency
