Jun 4, 2012
Our Special Issue on Healthcare
From the editor
Healthcare and medicine are two fields that loom large throughout the world. They touch each of our lives in very personal ways. Healthcare and medicine also represent enormous segments of our global economy. The global pharmaceutical industry was worth nearly $900 billion in 2011, for example. Total health expenditures in the United States alone now top $2.5 trillion, or about 18 percent of GDP. As more people live longer and at higher standards, worldwide healthcare expenditures are expected to grow significantly in the coming decades.
We here at Kellogg Insight thought it would be appropriate to gather a portion of the Kellogg School’s recent research on healthcare and medicine. First, Blake McShane, an assistant professor of marketing, puts his vast statistical expertise to use helping doctors and scientists better understand sleep. On the other end of the research-to-bedside spectrum, Adam Waytz, an assistant professor of management and organizations, details how modern medicine has a way of dehumanizing patients and offers solutions to counter those problems. Craig Garthwaite, an assistant professor of management and strategy, investigates both how economics can affect health and how changes in the law can affect doctors’ work hours.
Itai Gurvich looks at another part of the healthcare system, one we often ignore until we need it most—emergency care. He delves into the issue of ambulance diversions, asking whether they really do prevent overcrowding in emergency rooms. Finally, with the U.S. Supreme Court expected to rule on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act this month, we turn to Leemore Dafny, an associate professor of management and strategy. Her research explores what a health insurance exchange might look like for employees of large firms, not just individuals or employees of small firms as provided for in the PPACA.
If you are interested in reading more on these topics, check the Kellogg Insight archives. We also have faculty who blog frequently on the topic at The Operations Room and Code Red.
Enjoy!
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What Happens to Worker Productivity after a Minimum Wage Increase?A pay raise boosts productivity for some—but the impact on the bottom line is more complicated.
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How to Get the Ear of Your CEO—And What to Say When You Have ItEvery interaction with the top boss is an audition for senior leadership.
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6 Takeaways on Inflation and the Economy Right NowAre we headed into a recession? Kellogg’s Sergio Rebelo breaks down the latest trends.
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Which Form of Government Is Best?Democracies may not outlast dictatorships, but they adapt better.
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When Do Open Borders Make Economic Sense?A new study provides a window into the logic behind various immigration policies.
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How Offering a Product for Free Can BackfireIt seems counterintuitive, but there are times customers would rather pay a small amount than get something for free.
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How Has Marketing Changed over the Past Half-Century?Phil Kotler’s groundbreaking textbook came out 55 years ago. Sixteen editions later, he and coauthor Alexander Chernev discuss how big data, social media, and purpose-driven branding are moving the field forward.
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Why Do Some People Succeed after Failing, While Others Continue to Flounder?A new study dispels some of the mystery behind success after failure.
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How Much Do Boycotts Affect a Company’s Bottom Line?There’s often an opposing camp pushing for a “buycott” to support the company. New research shows which group has more sway.
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5 Takeaways on the State of ESG InvestingESG investing is hot. But what does it actually deliver for society and for shareholders?
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How Are Black–White Biracial People Perceived in Terms of Race?Understanding the answer—and why black and white Americans may percieve biracial people differently—is increasingly important in a multiracial society.
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Could Bringing Your "Whole Self" to Work Curb Unethical Behavior?Organizations would be wise to help employees avoid compartmentalizing their personal and professional identities.
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What Went Wrong at AIG?Unpacking the insurance giant's collapse during the 2008 financial crisis.
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Why Well-Meaning NGOs Sometimes Do More Harm than GoodStudies of aid groups in Ghana and Uganda show why it’s so important to coordinate with local governments and institutions.
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3 Tips for Reinventing Your Career After a LayoffIt’s crucial to reassess what you want to be doing instead of jumping at the first opportunity.
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Immigrants to the U.S. Create More Jobs than They TakeA new study finds that immigrants are far more likely to found companies—both large and small—than native-born Americans.
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Podcast: Does Your Life Reflect What You Value?On this episode of The Insightful Leader, a former CEO explains how to organize your life around what really matters—instead of trying to do it all.