We use an OLG model with heterogenous agents where agents can choose between a low deductibleand a high deductible health insurance. In addition, they can save tax free in a health savings account (HSA) if they choose the high deductible insurance. We study the effect of transitioning from a system with private health insurance for young agents and Medicare for old agents to a system with HSAs ...

The largest decile of commercial electricity customers comprises half of commercial sector electricity usage. We quantify a considerable split incentives problem that exists when these large firms are on electricity-included property lease contracts. Controlling for a rich set of variables that may correlate with selection into contract type, we use exogenous variation in weather shocks to show...

BACKGROUND This paper analyses the costs and benefits of commissioning memory services for early diagnosis and intervention for dementia. METHOD A model was developed to examine potential public and private savings associated with delayed admissions to care homes in England as a result of the commissioning of memory services. FINDINGS The new services would cost around pound sterling 220 mi...

Section 1110 of the Social Security Act provides for a cooperative research grants program. The grants given by the Social Security Administration under this program are to nonprofit organizations for research in the broad area of social security. Reports on two recently completed grants projects are summarized below. Similar summaries will be published in the BULLETIN as the projects are concl...

Introduction During this century several transportation modes, including transit, personal automobiles, and airplanes, have competed for market share. Despite this competition, the personal vehicle has become the dominant form of mobility in many countries throughout Europe and North America. In turn, public transit has found it increasingly difficult to attract and retain passengers. This pape...

In this paper, I analyze consumption, aggregate savings,output and welfare implications of …ve di¤erent social security arragements whenever there is demographic uncertanity. Following Bohn(2002), I analyze the e¤ect of an uncetain population growth in an extended version of a modi…ed Life-cycle model developed by Gertler(1999). Population growth dampens savings and output under all arrangement...

Generic prescribing and generic substitution are mechanisms for reducing the cost of drugs. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which generic prescribing by private medical practitioners and generic substitution by private pharmacists is practised in South Africa and to estimate the potential savings from these two practices. Prescriptions from 10 pharmacists were collected on...

There is widespread consensus that making healthy lifestyle choices including diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking, are vital to a healthy population. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans have a long way to go in attaining these goals. For example, the latest data from the CDC indicates that obesity rates continue to rise. Obesity is a known risk...

A simulation algorithm is proposed that predicts the lighting energy performance of manually and automatically controlled electric lighting and blind systems in private and two-person offices. Algorithm inputs are annual profiles of user occupancy and work plane illuminances. These two inputs are combined with probabilistic switching patterns, which have been derived from field data, in order t...

In an earlier issue of the Journal, we showed that sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer might result in net cost savings under expert-based assumptions (1). Although savings start to exceed costs after 22 years, it takes about 45 years for a continuing screening program to be compensated by savings before all costs. A screening program that terminates after 30 years will achieve net co...