Journal of Economic Literature
ISSN 0022-0515 (Print) | ISSN 2328-8175 (Online)
Equality, Efficiency, and Market Fundamentals: The Dynamics of International Medical-Care Reform
Journal of Economic Literature
vol. 40,
no. 3, September 2002
(pp. 881–906)
Abstract
Public opinion surveys uniformly show low support for medical-care systems in developed countries. The longstanding conflict between equal access to care and efficient service provision partly explains this dissatisfaction. But the trade-off is particularly acute in medical care, as new technologies developed over time have increased the cost of care and made the equity commitment even more expensive. Countries first dealt with rising costs by maintaining equal access and restricting total spending. Efficiency suffered, however. As a result, many countries are considering a move away from spending controls and toward incentive-based medical-care reform.Citation
Cutler, David, M. 2002. "Equality, Efficiency, and Market Fundamentals: The Dynamics of International Medical-Care Reform." Journal of Economic Literature, 40 (3): 881–906. DOI: 10.1257/002205102760273814JEL Classification
- I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
- I11 Analysis of Health Care Markets