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The reform of social security pensions and healthcare is a key issue for the modern world, and in many ways Latin America has acted as a social laboratory for the reform of these systems. From the reforms that took place in Chile in 1981, most pension and health care systems in the region have seen reform, and been fully or partially privatized. Many other countries considering reform of their own systems have been influenced by the policies implemented in Latin America.

Yet despite the importance and influence of these reforms, until now there has not been an integrated and comprehensive analysis of the changes and their effects. This book is the result of four years of painstaking work, data collection, field research and international collaboration, and so fills the vacuum in the literature with a systematic comparison of pension and healthcare reforms in the 20 Latin American countries.

It identifies reform models, and elaborates taxonomies to facilitate their understanding and comparison. Some key features of the reforms to emerge are: labour force and population coverage, equity and solidarity, sufficiency and quality of benefits, state regulation, competition and degree of privatization, efficiency and administrative costs, social participation in management, financing sources and long-term sustainability. Effects of the reforms on social security principles are measured based on recent standardized statistics and other information. Goals or assumptions of the reforms are contrasted with actual outcomes, and the pros and cons of private versus private provision assessed. Detailed policy recommendations are offered to correct current problems and improve pension and healthcare systems.

This is the first book to comprehensively study these influential reforms in Latin America's pension and health care systems, and as such will be of importance to academics and researchers interested in social security and welfare policy, pensions, health care, and public policy; Social security, pension, and health care policy-makers; And social security, pension, and health care consultants and practitioners. ... Read more

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Although no other country in the world allocates as large a proportion of its GDP to health care as the United States, it is clear that the most basic health needs of many Americans are not being met. Health Care Reform in the Nineties presents an extensive study of this topical issue. ... Read more

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Twaddle reviews the reforms in the Swedish health care system during the 1980s and early 1990s, and asks why there was a sudden shift toward market ideology in the early 1990s. The Swedish case allows us to highlight the forces behind the change of political rhetoric in a manner that can shed light on medical care reform efforts elsewhere in the world. ... Read more

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Shelton explains how the power of talk defeated comprehensive health care reform in 1994, and how it continues to affect society today. The 1994 call for reform fits into a century long context of concern. Reform was defeated once again in 1994 by the discursive power of big government. The ripples of the health care reform debate influence ethical decisions, research interests, and overall social behavior today. ... Read more

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Drawing upon the explanatory strength of the political economy perspective, this book investigates the development of health care in Hong Kong from 1945 onwards with particular reference to the health care reforms since the mid 1980s. Within the political economy perspective, the social context, health needs, the state and the medical profession are essential components in the study of health care. The private wage and unpaid domestic labour are conceptualized as major resources for health consumption. In addition, an examination of three important constituent elements of the health care system, namely, access, financing and delivery provides the basis on which the book presents an in-depth and critical study of the fundamental threads and factors underlying the development and reforming of health care in Hong Kong. In particular, the political economy perspective illuminates the changing interface between informal health care, traditional Chinese medicine and formal health care and their relative overall importance across time as circumstances change. ... Read more

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Good health and equal access to health and medical care are the fundamental aspects of the Swedish welfare state. In recent years, however, economic incentives have become more and more important in health care, even in welfare states such as Sweden. In a decade and a half, Sweden has experimented with different health care modalities. As far as we know, relatively little research has been done to assess how these financial incentives, over time, have affected Sweden and the views of physicians. This work analyzes the implications of these reforms on the future structure of the well-envied health care of the Swedes. ... Read more

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Back to Reform is a persuasive discussion of the moral values that spurred the movement for health care reform and that remain insistent today. The book is also a critique of exclusive reliance on marketplace reforms for improvements in health care. By examining the values at the heart of the need for health care reform, Dougherty displays the incompatibilities between these values and those related to the market place.

The book begins with an overview of the health care system and with an examination of the nature and meaning of moral values. It proceeds to show how stresses in the health care system are caused by increased use of market reforms and how these reforms are inconsistent with the values that are central to securing genuine health care reform. In each chapter, a central moral value is considered, inspecting its historical roots and current meanings, paying attention to both religious and secular influences. The values addressed, including human dignity, caring, protection of the least well-off, the common good, cost containment, responsibiliy, and excellence, are then applied to the health care system.

Back to Reform is a thoughtful reminder of the moral dimensions of health care and health care reform. It builds a strong argument for a limited and well-defined but leading role for government if health care change is going to amount to health care reform. ... Read more

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Reform of the welfare sector is an important yet difficult challenge for countries in transition from socialist central planning to market-oriented democracies. Here a scholar of the economics of socialism and post-socialist transition, and a health economist take on this challenge. They offer health sector reform recommendations for ten countries of Eastern Europe, drawn from nine guiding principles. The authors conclude that policymakers need to achieve a balance, both assuring social solidarity through universal access to basic health services and expanding individual choice and responsibility through voluntary supplemental insurance. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Alcohol Research & Health, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2006. The length of the article is 2802 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Welfare reform and substance abuse treatment for welfare recipients.
Author: Jon Morgenstern
Publication: Alcohol Research & Health (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 29Issue: 1Page: 63(5)

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How should reforms in health systems inOECD countries be evaluated? While many such reforms are too recent to be fully evaluated, evaluation is a critical feature of the reforms, and it is possible to undertake a preliminary assessment of the change process.Twelve Ministers of Health, senior civil servants, and a number of experts all strove to undertake this assessment during the first meeting of its kind, held by the OECD.This volume presents the proceedings of the conference, along with the background notes monitoring and analyzing the political, economic, and management dimensions of the process of change.In addition, selected keynote remarks made during the Conference are included. ... Read more

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The most comprehensive and up-to-date critical analysis of the competitive health care reforms of the 1980s. Whatever the health care reimbursement policy chosen for the future, these reforms can be expected to play a major role. Topics include the case for competitive reform in health care, the role of managed care in competitive policy reforms, the effects of competition on the hospital industry, the case against competition, the prospects of rationing care in the 1990s, and comparisons with Canada and the United Kingdom. The volume editors end the book with a discussion of competitive reform and the future. Contributors include "Mary Ann Baily, David Dranove, Roger Feldman, Deborah Freund, Kathryn Langwell, Theodore Marmor, John Posnett, Charles E. Phelps, Frank A. Sloan, Kenneth E. Thorpe," and "Jack Zwanziger." ... Read more

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A former U.S. Secretary of the Treasuryand aneminent economisttackle the biggest socialissue of our time.Of all the issues swirling around the 2008election, the staggering projected costs for the upkeep of America's largest entitlementprograms—Social Security, Medicare, andMedicaid—loom with gathering intensity.Government revenues alone cannot solve theproblem, but a solution must be found. In thisbook George P. Shultz and John B. Shoven take apractical—and optimistic—look at the issues athand, offering an agenda for reform that willmake these essential programs solvent. Drawingon a trove of original research, they take stock of the current situation, consider plans on offer from major thinkers in the field, and chart acourse toward a system that provides income forthe elderly and universal access to health carein ways that are fiscally sound. This book is amust-read for anyone looking to make an informed decision about the country's future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Non-partisan approach to solving entitlement problem
A must read (which is fairly short) for the lay-person interested in the reform of these massive national entitlement programs, that, if left unchecked, will ruin this nation's economy and standard of living in the not-too-distant future.While I am no expert on entitlement reform, I felt this book (written by a former Reagan cabinet member) was about as non-partisan as you can get (indeed, blatant partisanship in the academic community, to which both of these authors currently belong, detracts from scholarly legitimacy).I believe that their critique of the various reform proposals are sound (albeit perhaps not as detailed as entitlement reform experts would like).Admittedly, they favor market-based solutions, but acknowledge the fundamental objectives that must be achieved by any reform policies.

Everything went great!
My book came very quickly and was in perfect condition. It couldn't have been better!

Thoughtfully Written
The authors present a realistic and practical plan for improving upon a failing system.Importantly, they also identify ways in which current proposals could be integrated.Essential reading for anyone who cares about this impending problem.

Very practical solutions to a growing problem!
Social Security is an important element for people to maintain their Standard of Individual Living (SOIL). The majority of people rely on Social Security according to the Soc. Sec. Administration (over 50% of income for 54% of married and for 74% of single people comes from Social Security). This book is an important reminder to people why they need to talk to their Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen and ask them to read this book and fix this problem. Even more urgent, is the need to fix the national medical system - yes we already have one! It's called Medicare and Medicaid. If the government can not efficiently run this program (in existence since 1967) how do you think they will run an even larger program? By fixing the existing health care program first through the many proposals in this book, our Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen can demonstrate the country is ready to have an even larger health care system put into place. We the people need to ask our Senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen to read this book and consider the proposals it contains - it is in your best interest.

Wealth Odyssey: The Essential Road Map For Your Financial Journey Where Is It You Are Really Trying To Go With Money?

Missing a Link
A persuasive analysis of the obstacles facing our entitlement programs, with thought-provoking recommendations for sustaining Social Security. However, I found its analysis of our health care system less compelling, as it totally ignored the successful measures implemented by several leading industrialized nations to contain costs, create a uniform health records system and deliver top-notch care to its citizens with little or no co-payments.

The authors virtually ignore the burgeoning costs of pharmaceuticals, do not challenge the canard that these high costs are needed to'fund R&D' nor criticize the hundreds of millions of research dollars diverted instead to TV and print advertising. Switzerland, hardly a second-rate power in the pharmaceuticals development, produces and delivers prescription drugs to its people at a fraction of the US cost. Wee have much that we canlearn from our foreign friends, but Sec. Shultz and Dr. Shoven choose to ignore such lessons

The presumption running through this book is that individuals will make the best choices, and that (ugh!)Government should keep its paws off. But personal choices tend to be optimistic and short-term driven, as our appallingly low savings rate proves. In our younger and middle years, millions of us abuse our bodies and skimp on inexpensive preventive care, then expect Medicare to fund the far more costly repairs in our old age. Any solution to our health care crisis must reverse that mindset and require full, public participation, however politically unpopular that may be,
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Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by Thomson Gale on September 13, 2005. The length of the article is 544 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Welfare spending cut under reforms.(Government)(Oregon counts health care, child protection and schools as aid to low-income people)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: September 13, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: d1

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This timely volume brings together specialists on the reformof social security systems to analyze the similarities and differences ofthose health care and pension reforms that have taken place since theearly 1990s and suggests possible gains through recent or contemplatedrevisions to those systems.

Contributors: Mariela Arenas; Alberto Arenas de Mesa; Julin Bertranou;Silvia Borzutzky; Miguel Eduardo Crdenas Rivera; Brian Cartin; RicardoC-rdova Mac'as; Aldo Isuani; Cheikh Kanerical information, wide rangingacross large and small Latin American countries, and firmly focused on thereform of pension and health care systems, this comprehensive book islikely to become the standard reference work on its subjects. To myknowledge, no other book accomplishes so much in these areas." - JorgeDom'nguez, The Center for International Affairs, Harvard University

"With a wealth of detail on a dozen major countries in Latin America, thisedited volume demonstrates that there is no single path to reform ofsocial protection. The editors' summary and recommendations remind thoseseeking simple solutions that each national experience precludes applyingone-size-fits-all formulae. Globalization may push all governments towardslimmer safety nets, but incumbent stakeholders will resist, draw out, andattenuate moves toward greater equity and efficiency. Thisam McGreevey,Director, Development Economics, The Futures Group Int'l and PrincipalEconomist, The World Bank

"The sound and insightful analysis in this volume asssesses a variety ofsocial security and health care schemes in Latin America, where policyissues havtilateral organizations, including the InterAmerican DevelopmentBank, the World Bank, and the Acuerdo de Cartagena, and official agenciessuch as the government of Paraguay and vice president of development atthe Corporac'on Financiera de Desarrollo in Peru. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Fairfield County Business Journal, published by Westfair Communications, Inc. on October 5, 1992. The length of the article is 805 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Political compromise will keep pension, health care reforms on a middle course. (Assistant Secretary of the Labor Department Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration David G. Ball's speech in Greenwich, Connecticut)
Author: Dan Mangan
Publication: Fairfield County Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 5, 1992
Publisher: Westfair Communications, Inc.
Volume: v31Issue: n41Page: p1(2)

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