In health economics and health care planning, the observation that age cohorts are generally positively correlated with per capita health expenditures is often cited as evidence that population ageing is the main driver of health care costs. Several recent studies, however, challenge this view....

In health economics and health care planning, the observation that age cohorts are generally positively correlated with per capita health expenditures is often cited as evidence that population ageing is the main driver of health care costs. Several recent studies, however, challenge this view....

The issue of locating locally unfriendly but socially beneficial facilities such as landfills and power stations is an important public policy concern in many countries. Local residents in the area where such facilities are to be located tend to exhibit strong opposition, no doubt due to the...

Using Australian manufacturing establishment data from 1993-94 and 1996-97, we study three possible sources of productivity gains from trade liberalisation: the exit of inefficient establishments, economies of scale from output expansion, and reduction in employment. We find weak evidence that...

The increasing prominence of the private sector in health care provision has generated considerable interest in understanding its implications on quality and cost. This paper investigates the phenomenon of cream skimming in a mixed public-private hospital setting using the novel approach of...

This paper evaluates the effect of introducing two new workforce roles under a pilot program conducted in Victoria, Australia. The trial took place at a regional hospital's emergency department (ED) between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009. The evaluation is based on three outcome measures: waiting...

The negative health effects of smoking are substantial and well documented. There are, however, few studies that focus on another aspect of the costs of smoking, namely its impact on productive activities, specifically in terms of productivity loss as a result of smoking. Previous economic...