An Undisciplined Economist: Robert G. Evans on Health Economics, Health Care Policy and Population Health

摘要

I took up the challenge of reviewing this collection of Canadian Health Policy Analyst, Robert Evans' essays, thinking I might learn something. I am a Lecturer in a health care subject and not an economist. As someone concerned about the complex interactions between health, population demographics, political systems and how health care provision is funded and accessed, I had heard Evans alluded to; shamefaced I admit I had never read any of his vast output. With these handicaps, I did not find the book an easy read, particularly the essays in the initial section dealing with economics and economists. However, I discovered it was a necessary read and well worth the effort of reading and re-reading to digest what is a very rich and varied menu. What I learned by far exceeded my expectations and I will heartily recommend this text to any of my graduate students considering a future career in health management, health care policy or health care regulation. In fact, I would say it should be on the recommended reading list for all health care students who wish to develop a deep understanding of how health care provision works in the modern world.