Publication

This publication discusses Germany's health care system from a comparative perspective. The authors argue that the country's health care financing is at the crossroads of fundamental reform. They explain that the impetus for reform stems from a general effort to restore Germany's dismal economic growth. Further, the authors consider that the two main proposals claiming to reduce the health system's impact on non-wage labor costs are primarily motivated by macroeconomic considerations. The paper argues that a comprehensive assessment of any proposal must be consistent with all of society's objectives for health policy and seek to combine efficiency with equity.