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Health, Government, and Irving Fisher

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  • Victor R. Fuchs

Abstract

This paper provides a few historical notes on government involvement in health, followed by a summary of the theoretical arguments that economists offer in its support. Irving Fisher's views and recommendations about health are examined in the light of today's perceptions concerning health, health economics, and health policy. The wide variety of roles that the U.S. and other governments currently play in health is reviewed, and the ability of economics to explain these roles is assessed. The consequences of government involvement for the health of populations, for expenditures on health care, and for political and social stability are examined. The paper concludes with an overview of new worldwide trends in health policy and some probable explanations for these trends.

Suggested Citation

  • Victor R. Fuchs, 2005. "Health, Government, and Irving Fisher," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(1), pages 407-425, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:64:y:2005:i:1:p:407-425
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.2005.00370.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. McClellan, Mark & Skinner, Jonathan, 2006. "The incidence of Medicare," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(1-2), pages 257-276, January.
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    3. Fuchs, Victor R. (ed.), 1996. "Individual and Social Responsibility," National Bureau of Economic Research Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226267869, October.
    4. Thurow, Lester C, 1974. "Cash Versus In-Kind Transfers," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 64(2), pages 190-195, May.
    5. Victor R. Fuchs, 2018. "Economics, Values, and Health Care Reform," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Health Economics and Policy Selected Writings by Victor Fuchs, chapter 39, pages 497-531, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    6. Paul Resnick & Christopher Avery & Richard Zeckhauser, 1999. "The Market for Evaluations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 89(3), pages 564-584, June.
    7. Victor R. Fuchs, 1996. "Individual and Social Responsibility: Child Care, Education, Medical Care, and Long-Term Care in America," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number fuch96-1, June.
    8. James M. Poterba, 1996. "Government Intervention in the Markets for Education and Health Care: How and Why?," NBER Chapters, in: Individual and Social Responsibility: Child Care, Education, Medical Care, and Long-Term Care in America, pages 277-308, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Craig William Perry & Harvey S. Rosen, 2001. "The Self-Employed are Less Likely to Have Health Insurance Than Wage Earners. So What?," NBER Working Papers 8316, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Curott, Nicholas A. & Snow, Nicholas A., 2022. "Nudging To Prohibition? A Reassessment of Irving Firsher’s Economics of Prohibition in Light of Modern Behavioral Economics," OSF Preprints dv97k, Center for Open Science.
    3. repec:pri:cepsud:80rosen is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Henrik Egbert & Teodor Sedlarski, 2017. "Fundamentals of modern economy: Irving Fisher and intertemporal choice theory," Economic Thought journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 1, pages 132-143.
    5. Harvey S. Rosen, 2002. "Public Finance: Essay for the Encyclopedia of Public Choice," Working Papers 122, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    6. Craig William Perry & Harvey Rosen, 2001. "Insurance and the Utilization of Medical Services Among the Self-Employed," CESifo Working Paper Series 580, CESifo.
    7. Harvey S. Rosen, 2002. "Public Finance: Essay for the Encyclopedia of Public Choice," Working Papers 122, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    8. Laurence S. Moss, 2010. "The Henry George Theorem and the Entrepreneurial Process: Turning Henry George on his Head," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 69(1), pages 563-585, January.

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    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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