explain how economics apply to health care?

Question

Some people claim that the "economic way of thinking" does not apply to issues such as health care. Explain how economics does apply to this issue by developing a "model" of an individual's choice.

Answer 1

If economic way of thinking does not apply to healthcare, how come we measure healthcare expenditure in per cent of GDP and discuss options for healthcare financing? :)

Read this essay for starters:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18802

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Answer 2

If the Government were to impose taxes on ones direct income or medicine for instance would it not affect health care that is our purchasing rights for basic needs such as medicine would be hampered. Or say a recession or natural disaster occurs and there is no money in reserve for the country how will government or anymore import medicine. Look at the television it happens everyday. For the individual if ones take home pay is Little what sort of health care would be available to them. Look at Developed versus developing countries statistics shows the great variation.