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Public Finance Principles and National Health Care Reform

Author

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  • Richard Zeckhauser

Abstract

Public finance principles, though usually treated as a minor consideration, lie at the heart of effective national health care reform. Four principles are discussed: charge for a service where its cost is created; distinguish rents, resources, and transfers; know what services cost and pay accordingly; balance distributional and equity concerns. The principles' implications include: since employment does not much affect health costs, financing (particularly of incremental insureds) need not be employer-based; health resources being immobile, many cutbacks in expenditure will not reflect real resource savings; and health care financing should mesh with an overall program of taxation and expenditure.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Zeckhauser, 1994. "Public Finance Principles and National Health Care Reform," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(3), pages 55-60, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:jecper:v:8:y:1994:i:3:p:55-60
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.8.3.55
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    File URL: http://www.aeaweb.org/articles.php?doi=10.1257/jep.8.3.55
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    Cited by:

    1. Cochrane, John H, 1995. "Time-Consistent Health Insurance," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 103(3), pages 445-473, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets

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