Victor Fuchs has produced a gem—a lucid analysis of a complex and confusing subject. One of America's leading economists, Dr Fuchs holds a joint appointment as professor of economics at Stanford University and of community medicine at the Stanford Medical School. He is also vice president, research, of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Dr Fuchs has long been a student of the economics of medical care and, more recently, of the determinants of health. This book is a brilliant distillation of his own research in health services, his experience as a medical school faculty member, his observations over a lifetime, and discussions with many professionals knowledgeable in this field.
The book should be of particular interest to physicians because it examines medical care and the central role played by physicians. It also examines the factors that determine health status from the perspective of the economist who looks at