Examining the structure of spatial health effects in Germany using Hierarchical Bayes Models

• DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2014.06.005
• Publication Date: 2014-06-26T01:50:43Z
• Authors: Peter Eibich; Nicolas R. Ziebarth
• Keywords: German reunification

Abstract This paper uses Hierarchical Bayes Models to model and estimate spatial health effects in Germany. We combine rich individual-level household panel data from the German SOEP with administrative county-level data to estimate spatial county-level health dependencies. As dependent variable we use the generic, continuous, and quasi-objective SF12 health measure. We find strong and highly significant spatial dependencies and clusters. The strong and systematic county-level impact is equivalent to 0.35 standard deviations in health. Even 20 years after German reunification, we detect a clear spatial East–West health pattern that equals an age impact on health of up to 5 life years for a 40-year old.