On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 3:48 PM, John Williams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> > http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/10/30/obama-drug-medicine-oped-cx_ch_1031hooper.html > > > As I wrote in the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics: "What complicates > the picture is socialized medicine, which exists in almost every country > outside the United States and even, with Medicare and Medicaid, in the > United States. Because governments in countries with socialized medicine > tend to be the sole bargaining agent in dealing with drug companies, > these governments often set prices that are low by U.S. standards. This > comes about because these governments have monopsony power--that is, > monopoly power on the buyer's side--and they use this power to get good > deals. These governments are, in effect, saying that if they can't buy > it cheaply, their citizens can't get it." > So the claim here is that Americans are almost solely subsidizing the drug development costs for the entire rest of the world? And by posting this, I assume you think this should remain status quo? Wow, you must really enjoy spreading our wealth around! Welcome to the liberal democratic elite! :-) > > Drugs are not too expensive in the U.S.; they're artificially cheap > elsewhere. It's also not much of an exaggeration to say that new drugs > are developed for, and as a result of, the American market because of > its pricing flexibility. > And yet the drug companies still sell those under priced drugs in those countries? Can't they just not sell them there if a fair price isn't met? _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
