Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/18175 
Year of Publication: 
2000
Series/Report no.: 
DIW Discussion Papers No. 205
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin
Abstract: 
Most systems of health care financing in EU member states currently include elements of income redistribution. The paper analyzes the effects of shifting this kind of redistribution to the tax system and argues that this reform could create two types of efficiency gains. On the expenditure side, it would facilitate the adoption of more incentive-compatible insurance contracts, for example through the introduction of copayment schemes. On the revenue side, income redistribution through the general tax system is likely to imply a shadow price of public funds that is lower than if redistribution is carried out through wage-based insurance contributions.
Subjects: 
health care finance
income redistribution
JEL: 
H51
I18
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
164.91 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.