Health Economics

by Zweifel, Peter; Breyer, Friedrich; Kifmann, Mathias

• ISBN13: 9783540278047
• ISBN10: 3540278044
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-10-04
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Health Economics presents a systematic treatment of the economics of health behavior and health care delivery. Appropriate both for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of economics, this text provides the background required to understand current research, presenting theoretical models as well as empirical evidence and summarizing key results. Without neglecting ethical concerns, modern microeconomic theory is applied to formulate theoretical implications and predictions. Issues discussed include the economic valuation of life and health, moral hazard in health care utilization, supplier-induced demand, the search for remuneration systems with favorable incentives, risk selection in health insurance markets, and technological change in medicine.

Table of Contents

Preface

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Introduction

Health -- a Priceless Commodity?

Economic Valuation of Life and Health

The Valuation of Health and its Applications

The Individual as the Producer of his Health

Statement of the Problem

Empirical Studies of the Production of Health

Summary of the Issue

Peculiarities of Health Goods and Their Allocative Implications

The Issue

Optimal Design of Health Insurance Contracts

The Issue

The Physician as a Supplier of Medical Services

Introduction

Forms of Delivery of Medical Care

The Issue

Hospital Services and Their Payment

The Issue

The Market for Pharmaceuticals

Issues involved

Future Challenges to Health Care Systems

The Issue

Suggestions for Policy

Health as a Economic Good

Author Index

Index

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