That is definitely not what reality is telling us. From The Economist, based on a World Bank report:
"
[font=Lucida Sans Unicode']Across Europe, healthcare is barely managing to cover its costs. Not only are the methods for raising funds to cover its costs inadequate, but, of even greater concern, the costs themselves are set to soar. According to World Bank figures, public expenditure on healthcare in the EU could jump from 8% of GDP in 2000 to 14% in 2030 and continue to grow beyond that date. The overriding concern of Europe’s healthcare sector is to find ways to balance budgets and restrain spending. Unless that is done, the funds to pay for healthcare will soon fall short of demand.[/font]
[font=Lucida Sans Unicode'][background=transparent]Read more: http://www.managemen...0#ixzz2ggLwunK3"[/background][/font]
[font=Lucida Sans Unicode'][background=transparent]So let me try again:[/background][/font]
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In a reality of spiraling health costs in Europe, stagnant and debt ridden economies, and one of the heaviest tax burdens in the world, how does continues to provide "free health care" to an aging population? [/background]
I read the article, which is dated 17 Mar
2011, in the depth of the latest financial crisis, when everybody was sobbing and dropping tears into the porridge.
"The Economist Intelligence Unit bears sole responsibility for the content of this report." They are undoubtly right about the Southern European countries, but that's it. The debt ridden economies? Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, which are countries, I did
not mention, see above.
Whatever 'The Economist' told their readers, I happen to live in the middle of it (and I did study national economy for two years under prof. Stephenson so I have some idea of the works), and so I ignore The Economist.
I live in a country where we have had a comfortable trade surplus during the last 12-13 years, 2013 looks even better than the previous decade. We also have a comfortable foreign currency reserve, a reasonably small state debt and a solid private investment in foreign countries, resulting in a rather large net fortune (Norway is even better of, the misers
) . Foreigners buy our state bonds with a negative interest rate just to make sure their money is still there in a few years.
At least the Scandinavian countries - and undoubtly also Die Schweiz, Nederland, Deutschland and Ôsterreich - keep close tab on their future health care expenses.
