[What factors determine professional investment in the healthcare sector?]

This study examines the risk taking behaviour of a particular group of SMEs, those established and run by liberal professionals. There is limited evidence on the economic behaviuor of liberal professionals despite the fact that they comprise a significant proportion of the SMEs in their national economies. The main objective of this research is therefore to extend research of behavioral economics theory and models to explain the economic behaviour of liberal professionals. In order to study this behaviour, I chose dentists to represent liberal professionals. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to self-employed members of the Swiss Dental Association. Dentists revealed risk-seeking behaviour when they responded to a hypothetical lottery and an insurance question. When asked about their willingness to take risk in general, a large proportion came through as moderate risk seekers. The study identifies gender, “cultural” differences and type of ownership as factors that affect risk attitudes. Female dentists perceive themselves as more risk-averse than males, but when actual risk preferences are measured this difference disappears. Dentists from the “Latin” regions of Switzerland are more likely to real risk aversion than those in the German region. Sole owners are more likely to be risk-seeking in the domain of losses than dentists in partnerships. Type of ownership is sensitive to gender and “cultural” differences. Partnerships are more common among females and dentists in the “Latin” region. The findings of this study have implications for public policy makers, management training and development companies, insurance companies, and umbrella organisations for liberal professionals.