After discussing the forces at add healthcare markets, we glance at some key facts that describe the healthcare system within the us. The healthcare system today is extremely different from what it had been fifty years ago, and it's also different from the healthcare systems in other nations. Recognizing these differences is vital for understanding the healthcare system we've also as for imagining systems we could have.
The proper scope of state intervention within the healthcare system may be a topic of continuing political debate. We won’t go into the details of that debate here. But this basic introduction to the economics of healthcare should assist you become a more informed participant in what is going to surely be an ongoing national discussion for many years to come.