Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Spending on healthcare `could double'

Nicholas Timmins
Sunday 17 September 1995 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Spending on health care is likely to double in the next 50 years as a share of national wealth - but that will in fact be affordable, a leading United States economist said yesterday, writes Nicholas Timmins.

On historical trends and likely future predictions, rising productivity will ensure that while health will take a much larger share of GDP, economic growth will ensure it is affordable.

Nations such as the UK will in fact be able to afford more of everything, William Baumol, Professor of Economics at Princeton and New York and an honorary fellow of the London School of Economics, says in a booklet published by the Office of Health Economics.

t Healthcare as a Handicraft Industry; OHE, 12 Whitehall Place, SW1A 2DY; pounds 5.

Leading article, page 14

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in