A Novel way to Compare Health Care Systems and to Assess their Potential Competitiveness. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zweifel, Peter
• Is Part Of: Economic affairs. Volume 36:Number 2(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 167
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: competitiveness -- health care system -- physician–patient relationship -- principal–agent theory; Great Britain -- Economic policy -- 1945-1964 -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- 1945-1964 -- Periodicals; Economics -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1111/ecaf.12175
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-0665

Abstract

Abstract: Traditionally, health care systems have been compared mainly in terms of their finance, that is, Beveridge‐type vs Bismarck‐type arrangements. This article adopts a novel approach permitting not only comparisons of a broader range of systems but also assessments of their potential competitiveness. This will become an issue at the latest when citizens of the European Union obtain the right to choose their health insurance. Systems are characterised by their so‐called dominant complementary agents, who promise to correct an important failure in the physician–patient relationship but differ in their incentives and their capacity to deal with a number of emerging challenges.