title: Are health shocks different? Evidence from a multishock survey in Laos.
abstract: Using primary data from Laos, we compare a broad range of different types of shocks in terms of their incidence, distribution between the poor and the better off, idiosyncrasy, costs, coping responses, and self-reported impacts on well-being. Health shocks are more common than most other shocks, more concentrated among the poor, more idiosyncratic, more costly, trigger more coping strategies, and highly likely to lead to a cut in consumption. Household members experiencing a health shock lost, on average, 0.6 point on a five-point health scale; the wealthier are better able to limit the health impacts of a health shock.
authors.affiliation: Development Research Group, The World Bank, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagstaff
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindelow
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004190:Disasters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007812:Laos; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Laos; health; self-reported well-being; shocks