The United States has a robust drug industry and Americans have access to a wide range of prescription drugs. However, drug prices are far higher in the U.S. than many other countries. The U.S. drug pipeline operates on what economists call price discrimination, charging some customers (countries) more than others.
Category: Health Reform
WSJ: Wearing Socks to Bed is Not Crazy. Just a Way to Sleep Better
My wife wears socks to bed because her feet get cold at night. I never wear socks to bed because my feet rarely feel cold. Plus, I do not like the feeling of something tight around my feet. Socks also grip the sheets and tug on them when I roll over. I never really thought wearing socks to bed was anything more than a personal choice by people with different attitudes about comfort while sleeping.
Thursday Links
- Biden’s executive order uses the Defense Production Act (DPA) to allow the government to produce drugs that are in short supply. It also waives any requirement to notify Congress before taking action.
- In 1980, physician donations to the two parties was 50/50; by 2018, 90% of physician donations were going to Democrats.
- Where are all the U-Hauls going? Texas ranks first and California ranks last.
- Australia has gone more than 30 years without a recession. Scott Sumner explains why.
- Can therapy help make you rich? “Light-touch psychological interventions, such as videos that aim to raise aspirations, have shown some promise in … improving economic well-being.”
- Recent increases in Medicare spending have been concentrated in specialties with the greatest proliferation of new Medicare billing codes. This is spending on new procedures.
Wednesday Links
- Prospects look good for musical therapy.
- Does studying economics make you selfish?
- Culture explains some differences in worker productively.
- State governments now spend over $40 billion a year on economic development incentives (giving money to businesses to relocate); yet studies find the spending does not lead to statistically significant improvements in tax revenue, employment, economic growth, or personal income.
- Harvard’s Claudine Gay resigns!