Includes bibliographical references (p. 595-621) and index.

Why health economics? -- Utility and health -- The transformation of medical care to health -- The demand for medical care : conceptual framework -- Empirical studies of medical care demand and applications -- The physician and the physician firm -- Physicians in the marketplace -- The hospital as a supplier of medical care -- Hospitals in the marketplace -- The demand for health insurance -- Health insurance supply and managed care -- Government provision of health insurance -- Medical malpractice -- Externalities in health and medical care -- Managing the market : regulation and technical change in health care -- Universal insurance issues and international comparisons of health care systems.