This eBook was born out of a general diagnosis that the US healthcare sector is not only one of the most studied industries in economics but also one of the areas where the field can make the most progress. Indeed, the American healthcare industry has many features that are particularly attractive to economists. It is one of (if not the) largest sectors of the US economy, accounting for almost 20% of the national Gross Domestic Product and employing tens of millions of workers. Firms range from large conglomerates to small providers, and there is strong government-private sector interaction, with federal, state, and local governments shaping policy. The industry also has many failures, is undergoing tremendous change, and produces a wealth of data (even if not always perfectly formatted). The field, however, is far from saturated. Healthcare is such a complex and intricate sector, one where details matter so much that it is almost its own subfield of economics. These high barriers to entry prevent scholars from researching healthcare topics and weaken the cross-pollination of ideas, an increasing hallmark of many other areas. This is problematic, not the least, because any major advances in healthcare economics literally save lives (and billions of dollars). This project aimed to help lower these barriers and kick-start broader collaborations.

This is a reprint. The attributes and conduct of the physician, hospital, insurance, and long-term care industries are examined.

Source of the debate on how much competition and regulation are necessary in the health care industry. This is a reprint of proceedings from a 1977 conference.

Winner of the 1990 Booker Prize. A witty meditation of the democratic responsibilites of the ordinary man, his duty to employer and family, and a poignant tale of thwarted idealism, this is perhaps Ishiguro's finest novel. The Remains of the Day is a charming, amusing and moving story which captures the reader's imagination from the first sentence.

The Business of Healthcare Innovation is a wide-ranging analysis of business trends in the manufacturing segment of the healthcare industry. It provides a thorough overview and introduction to the innovative sectors fueling improvements in healthcare: pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, platform technology, medical devices and information technology. For each sector, the book examines the basis and trends in scientific innovation, the business and revenue models pursued to commercialize that innovation, the regulatory constraints within which each sector must operate and the growing issues posed by more activist payers and consumers. Specific topics include market structure and competition, the economics and rationale of product development, pricing, sales and marketing, contract negotiations with buyers, alliances versus mergers, business strategies and prospects for growth. Written by professors of the Wharton School and industry executives, the book shows why healthcare sectors are such an important source of growth in any nation's economy.