Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Federal District Judge Roger Vinson’s opinion

by Beverly Mann Roger Vinson, Sophism King Federal District Judge Roger Vinson’s opinion issued the other day ruling the Healthcare Act an unconstitutional overreach by Congress is so replete with sophisms that it’s hard pick the most ridiculous of them. But my candidates are: “[W]hat if two of the purported “unique” factors — inevitable participation […]

Why Healthcare is So Expensive Part MMDCLVI

by Tom Bozzo, cross-posted from Marginal Utility Competition in (increasing) service quality doesn’t reduce costs: Dane County’s two hospitals that deliver babies are each spending close to $40 million to spruce up maternity units and related facilities for a simple reason: Young women are key health care consumers, often deciding where their families will seek […]

Health Care thoughts: Hysterical Reporting

by Tom aka Rusty Health Care: Hysterical Reporting Fox News ran a screaming intro and a scary bottom summary line on a story on some survey of physicians, claiming a majority of physician will quit, retire or work part-time. Link via Yahoo: http://news.yahoo.com/video/health-15749655/23362511 This is further proof that Fox News does not do journalism. The […]

Thinking about Research

Chris Blattman highlights the latest version of Janet Currie and Reed Walker’s research on a positive externality of the shift to E-Z Pass (PDF link). From the Abstract: We find that reductions in traffic congestion generated by E-ZPass reduced the incidence of prematurity and low birth weight among mothers within 2km of a toll plaza […]

HEALTH CARE: Can Mom Live Forever?

by Tom aka Rusty Rustbelt HEALTH CARE: Can Mom Live Forever? Many of us have had the experience of losing a parent. It is a life passage that is impossible to completely prepare for. Problem is, mom is not going to live forever, and at some point aggressive care makes no sense – except to […]

In Honor of the Super Bowl

Favorite papers from the 2008 AEA in New Orleans (all PDF, ungated): Emily Haisley on lottery tickets and perception. I heard about this paper before reading it. Such a simple idea, such a direct experiment. Michele Tertilt: Women’s Liberation: What’s in it for Men (with M. Doepke). The next step is to figure out why […]

Universal Health Care Is Good for Business

A Healthy Blog notes that Massachusetts has reversed the national trend: Since the enactment of Chapter 58, Massachusetts has increased the percentage of employers offering coverage to their employees. With the employer offer rate up 4% over two year, to 76%, we are climbing well above the national average of 60%. This increase occurred in […]

ER: It is the law, and often a slogan "Everyone can get care"

Rdan Not only is ER care enormously expensive for ‘more routine’ health concerns than a clinic, but perhaps are not equal for insure/uninsured even for traffic accidents, not withstanding our best wishes. Sphere notes a report from the Archives of Surgery: It’s federal law: All seriously injured emergency and trauma patients must be given equal […]

The Best Health Care System in the World

For the record, both my daughters were vaccinated today, under government supervision at no cost to us, in a procedure that took less than 10 minutes—including getting a five-year-old to take her coat off and, post shot, put it on again. Via Felix Salmon’s Twitter feed, without further comment. (cross-posted from Skippy the Bush Kangaroo)

Game Changing Vote On Health Care

by Bruce Webb Key Senate committee passes health care plan The Senate Finance Committee passed a long-awaited $829 billion health care bill Tuesday by a 14-9 vote. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, was the lone committee member to cross party lines, breaking with other Republicans to vote for the measure. All the committee’s Democrats supported the […]