Over the years there has been a general recognition that serious economic problems have plagued and continue to plague the majority of aged persons in the U.S. and other countries. This article examines the personal savings rates required to provide an average worker with adequate retirement...

The World Health Survey (WHS) which has been implemented in more than 70 countries with standardized questionnaires opens a great opportunity for research on health care financing issues. This study examines the household expenditures and health expenditure collected in the WHS in terms of...

During the 1960's and 1970's the Chinese government encouraged the 'rural cooperative medical systems' (RCMS), in order to ensure access to basic health care among the rural population. There was a break in the development of the RCMS in the early 1980's, as a consequence of market economic...

This study analyzes a number of economic evaluation techniques that can be used by the economist in helping decision-makers make choices about the allocation of scarce resources in health care and the organization of health interventions. The evaluation techniques discussed are cost-benefit...

Objective: To assess and compare the costs and effectiveness of different vaccination strategies against hepatitis B in Switzerland. Design: A birth cohort of 85 000 individuals was followed over their lifetime, using a decision-tree analysis. Published data were used to simulate the risk of...

Several low- and middle-income countries are interested in extending their existing health insurance for specific groups to eventually cover their entire populations. For those countries interested in such an extension, it is important to understand what characterises a well performing social...