Private Choices, Social Costs, and Public Policy: An Economic Analysis of Public Health Issues

This work examines the magnitude of the external costs, both human and fiscal, that arise from individual behavioural choices. It treats topical and controversial public health issues - such as drug abuse, AIDS, black and infant mortality rates, teenage pregnancy, cigarette smoking, etc., from the unique perspective of the economist. Using this economic perspective, Hammerle recommends public policies that will effectively reduce the incidence of socially-costly, unhealthy behaviour or shift the costs of that behaviour. This volume should be of interest to academics, practitioners, and policy-makers in the fields of public health, health care administration, public policy, child protection and family planning. The work should also interest economists and sociologists in the field of social welfare.