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Financing Universal Health Care in the United States: A General Equilibrium Analysis of Efficiency and Distributional Effects

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  • Ballard, Charles L.
  • Goddeeris, John H.

Abstract

We study the efficiency and distributional effects of financing universal health-insurance coverage, using a computational general equilibrium model of the United States for 1991, with considerable disaggregation among families. Aggregate efficiency losses (primarily from labor supply distortions) range from 0.2 percent to nearly 1 percent of net output. Losses are considerably smaller for a "mandate-with-tax-credit" plan than for full tax finance. All plans redistribute in favor of the poor. The mandate with credit is much better for the highest income groups, but worse for the lower-middle class. The elderly lose in all plans we consider.

Suggested Citation

  • Ballard, Charles L. & Goddeeris, John H., 1999. "Financing Universal Health Care in the United States: A General Equilibrium Analysis of Efficiency and Distributional Effects," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 52(1), pages 31-51, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:52:y:1999:i:1:p:31-51
    DOI: 10.1086/NTJ41789374
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Charles L. Ballard & Don Fullerton, 1992. "Distortionary Taxes and the Provision of Public Goods," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 6(3), pages 117-131, Summer.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hanson, Kenneth & Somwaru, Agapi, 2003. "Distributional Effects of U.S. Farm Commodity Programs: Accounting for Farm and Non-Farm Households," Conference papers 331120, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    2. Parry, Ian W.H., 2005. "Comparing the welfare effects of public and private health care subsidies in the United Kingdom," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 1191-1209, November.
    3. Kwok, Yun-Kwong, 2004. "Global factor trade with differentiated factor prices and factor intensities," Conference papers 331173, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    4. Parry, Ian W.H., 2001. "On the Efficiency of Public and Private Health Care Systems: An Application to Alternative Health Policies in the United Kingdom," Discussion Papers 10822, Resources for the Future.

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