THE ECONOMICS OF AMERICAN MEDICINE

Professor Harris' extensive study analyzes the many sorespots in medical care today: the shortage of doctors and their maldistribution; the rising costs of physicians, hospital costs and drugs; the ""financial blocks for the disadvantaged groups"" for whom the price of medical services has gone up 60% in the last twenty years. Professor Harris, who is one of President Kennedy's economic advisers (and active in testifying on the Medicare program which failed to pass) also discusses all kinds of insurance programs, the strengths and weaknesses of England's National Health program (which he considers on the whole successful). This is a sobering, statistical study, for a professional audience- of economists, administrators dealing with this serpentine Caduceus.