Box 9-2 on page 159 identifiestwo theories of how to view health care. Neither of these theories arepresented by the authors as an either/or choice, but will help you see the fundamentaldebate about health care ispresent even within the field of economics. Look at the Issue, Theory X, and Theory Y, and discuss the theory you support, or if you support neither theory, or if you support somecombination of both theories.

Attached is the image of box 9-2.

Issue Theory X Your view about how Whether a person is healthy or sick is an individual's health determined randomly. Whether a person is healthy or sick depends on lifestyle choices such as whether a wed is determined person smokes, drinks, or wears a seatbelt. Your view of medical Medicine is a science, and experts will Medicine is an art and there will never be practice ultimately discover the best means for one best way to treat every illness because of 1or oni treating every illness. illnesses are often patient-specific and because there will always be demand for lower-cost and less painful treatments. Your view of Medical care is a unique commodity. Medical care is similar to any other good or medical care service. Your view of the Government regulations are necessary to Government regulations are not necessary, government's role in protect this unique commodity, to control technological advances and more services health careJud profiteering at the cost of patient care, to are desirable, and competition, not control the resources spent on health care, regulation, should drive the market. and to improve information sharing. From Musgrave GL. Health economics outlook: two theories of health economics. Bus Econ. 1995;30:7-13