TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Bariletti, Antonio
AU  -  Citoni, Guido
T1  -  Scitovsky and health
PY  -  2016
Y1  -  2016-07-01
DO  -  10.1706/2444.25624
JO  -  Politiche Sanitarie
JA  -  Politiche sanitarie
VL  -  17
IS  -  3
SP  -  131
EP  -  146
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  2038-1832
Y2  -  2026/04/29
UR  -  http://dx.doi.org/10.1706/2444.25624
N2  -  Abstract. In this paper we start from three considerations about health, health care and health insurance put forward by Tibor Scitovsky, to spell out a conceptual method of reasoning about the effects on excitement (positive satisfaction and active interest) and happiness of the existence, in Western countries, of a developed health care sector. We argue that even if the high security that this coverage guarantees may negatively affect the degree of excitement of Western citizens, health care contributes also, as a human capital investment, to their creativity. The latter effect was probably understated by Scitovsky, who adopted, in our view, a simplistic and value-loaded approach to health and health care production and consumption. JEL classification. I10, I12, I31, B30.
ER  -