Brief Will Health Care Reform Hurt the Economy and Increase Unemployment?
John Holahan
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This paper examines the economic impact of health reform. The conclusion is that health reform is not likely to have a significant effect on the US economy or on employment. The changes in both spending and taxes generally have offsetting effects and are simply too small relative to the overall size of the economy to have much of an impact. The taxes on insurers and drug companies will be more than offset by new revenues from increased coverage. State and local governments should be beneficiaries as well as most small businesses. The effects will also turn fairly positive to the extent that the cost-containment efforts are successful.
Research Areas Economic mobility and inequality Health and health care
Tags Health insurance
Policy Centers Health Policy Center