近日，北京大学市场经济研究中心特聘研究员袁野助理教授与合作者的合作论文《The effect of information and streamlined appointments on patient sorting and hospital efficiency》在工业经济学领域顶级期刊《Journal of Industrial Economics》2025年6月正式发表。

　　Abstract: How do the provision of information and consumer choices affect market efficiency in a market with misallocation and rationing? We investigate the introduction of a mobile-phone-based outpatient appointment app that provides real-time hospital information and streamlines appointment booking in China's public hospital market. We find that the app can significantly improve the efficiency of hospital appointment utilization and healthcare quality, achieved through facilitating patient sorting over time and across hospitals based on medical needs. Patients with mild conditions are directed to primary-care facilities, while acute-care hospitals are better able to serve patients with severe conditions. We also observe improved patient health outcomes and reduced medical cost. Our findings underscore the power of lightweight healthcare IT innovations in enhancing hospital resource management and patient welfare.