Health care arguably is the single most regulated industry in industrial countries, and possibly in newly industrialized and developing countries as well. But what exactly is being regulated, what are the instruments used, and what are the effects and side-effects of such regulation?
Regulation of Health: Case Studies of Sweden and Switzerland seeks to resolve problems in answering these key questions regarding the health care sector in two countries - Sweden and Switzerland. The volume contains a series of studies that compare the regulation of health and health care in these two apparently very similar countries, in considerable detail. The contributing teams acquired a great deal of knowledge about health regulation in both countries; they also derived comparative predictions when regulation differs, using actual observations to check whether these predictions are borne out. These comparisons are based on the conditions prevailing in the mid-nineties.

1: Introduction.- 2: Overview of the Two Systems.- 3: Differences in Taxation and Regulation of Health Affecting Goods - Alcohol and Tobacco.- 4: Licensing of Physicians.- 5: Price Setting for Doctors.- 6: Licensing of Firms and Institutions.- 7: Reimbursement of Hospital Services and Hospital Financing.- 8: Incentives for Diffusion of New Health Care Technology.- 9: The Market for Pharmaceuticals.- 10: Programs for the Aged in Sweden and in Switzerland.- 11: Compensation for Health-Related Loss of Income.- 12: Taxes, Premiums, User Charges: Financing from the Point of View of Consumers.