Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-3-2026
Abstract
We study how individuals in six Latin American countries value public versus private provision of education and healthcare using a survey experiment. Respondents were randomly assigned to vignettes that vary income, service quality, and provider type. Reported service quality is the main driver of choices: the probability of selecting a private provider roughly doubles when reported quality of the public option falls from 80 to 20 percent, while income has a smaller effect. Higher institutional trust lowers the likelihood of switching to private providers but does not affect willingness to pay once individuals choose private provision.
Recommended Citation
Bejarano, H., Busso, M., & Santos, J. F. (2026). Stated preferences for public provision of services: Experimental evidence from Latin America. ESI Working Paper 26-01. https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/432/
Comments
ESI Working Paper 26-01