HUNG-HAO CHANGMeyerhoefer C.D.2020-02-052020-02-0520190167-6296https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/453416We investigate the impact of access to convenience stores and competition between convenience store chains on the use of medical care in Taiwan. Using insurance claims from 0.85 million individuals and administrative data on store sales, we find that greater store density and more inter-brand competition reduced expenditures on outpatient medical services and prescription drugs. In support of these findings, we demonstrate that convenience store competition was associated with greater consumption of healthy foods and lower obesity rates. Our estimates suggest that the rise in convenience store competition from 2002 to 2012 reduced outpatient expenditures in Taiwan by 0.44 percent and prescription drug expenditures by 0.85 percent. ? 2019 Elsevier B.V.Convenience store industry; Food density; Inter-brand competition; Medical expenditure[SDGs]SDG3competition (economics); drug prescribing; food consumption; health expenditure; health impact; health services; retailing; Article; commercial phenomena; convenience food; cost control; feeding behavior; health care cost; health care utilization; health survey; human; insurance; interview; nutritional health; obesity; outpatient care; prescription; restaurant; Taiwan; urban rural difference; adult; catering service; drug cost; economic aspect; economics; female; male; marketing; obesity; patient attitude; public health; questionnaire; Taiwan; prescription drug; Adult; Drug Costs; Economic Competition; Female; Food Supply; Health Expenditures; Humans; Male; Marketing; National Health Programs; Obesity; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Prescription Drugs; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taiwanjournal article10.1016/j.jhealeco.2019.03.0012-s2.0-85064133379https://www2.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064133379&doi=10.1016%2fj.jhealeco.2019.03.001&partnerID=40&md5=438169ddd3a0c7cca9c82872a9882f11