The demand for health: differences between the native Dutch and immigrants in the Netherlands

This paper estimates the demand for health by using a health capital model for different population groups (native Dutch, Surinamese/Antillean, Moroccan, and Turkish) in the Netherlands. Also the effect of overweight on health utility is investigated. We found a decrease in the demand for health for age, overweight, and smoking, we found an increase in the demand for health for level of education and marital status. The analyses show a strong effect of gender. Being female in all groups is negatively related to health utility. Turkish and Moroccan ethnicity is negatively related to health status.