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Quality signals and patient referrals in the market for social workers' services

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Abstract

The author describes an indirect measure of quality of care provided by social workers in private practice. The extent to which quality is related to fees or level of education is then explored. The results suggest that higher fees are a signal of higher quality and uninformed consumers appear to use this signal correctly in their choice of social worker.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Economics at Smith College, 01063, Northampton, MA

    Deborah Haas-Wilson Ph.D.

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  1. Deborah Haas-Wilson Ph.D.
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Haas-Wilson, D. Quality signals and patient referrals in the market for social workers' services. Adm Policy Ment Health 18, 55–64 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00706492

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