Feed on
Posts
Comments

In a self-described balanced political treatment of the history of health care policy, Paul Starr delivers us this:

What finally broke the grip of the hospitals (and later the doctors) on the methods of Medicare payment was the acute fiscal crisis that developed after Reagan cut taxes and increased military spending in 1981 and the economy then plunged into the worst recession in decades.

The dual recessions of the early 80s are largely thought to be the result of the necessary tightening of monetary policy at the time which was the unfortunate policy prescription (necessary) from the Keynesian unicorn period of the 1970s (high inflation and high unemployment). Indeed, the early 80s recession is known as the Volcker Recession after the chairman of the Fed who sharply and quickly increased the federal funds rate to stave off the inflation.

Interestingly, the narrative above is a little out of touch with modern stimulus advocates, no? Wouldn’t both cutting taxes and raising spending (whether on bombs or bridges or battery powered cars or basement digging for that matter) be precisely what the Keynesian doctor ordered? But is the author going to argue that doing this, only when Reagan was president, plunged us into recession? Seems like the opposite of the austerity fairy to me.

To give the author a little leeway, he did just remind readers on the page prior that Reagan himself was responsible for instituting both an expansion of Medicaid and in imposition of Medicare price controls. Remind your friends of that when you are at a dinner party.

5 Responses to “Balanced View for Sure”

  1. 166631 453066Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn something like this before. So very good to search out any person with some unique thoughts on this subject. realy thanks for starting this up. this site is 1 thing thats wanted on the net, somebody with a bit originality. valuable job for bringing one thing new to the internet! 959943

  2. 811509 652893I like this blog so significantly, saved to bookmarks . 692635

  3. fox888 says:

    458117 546920But a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw fantastic style and design . 272491

  4. cam girls says:

    977954 124600This web page is often a walk-through for all of the details it suited you with this and didnt know who to ask. Glimpse here, and youll undoubtedly discover it. 125361

  5. 112302 258145Was koche ich heute – diese Frage stellen sich tag fuer tag viele Menschen. Und wir haben tag fuer tag die perfeckte Antwort darauf! Besuchen Sie uns auf unserer Webseite und lassen Sie sich von uns beraten . Wir freuen uns auf Sie! 991308

Leave a Reply