Is the Price System or Rationing More Effective in Getting a Commodity to Those Who Need it Most?

The Price System or Rationing More Effective in Getting a Commodity to Those Who Need It Most?

Flu shots in Canada: are they getting to those who need them most?

The Issue Despite increasing awareness about influenza viruses and how quickly they can spread and cause illness, influenza epidemics still place great burdens on society globally in terms of morbidity, mortality and lost productivity each year. Influenza infections are generally not severe for most healthy adults and older children, but for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young chi...

More treatment for those most in need? A foregone conclusion?

In the study of McFarlane et al1 a community outreach program was set up to reduce the transition to psychosis in subjects at increased risk. A broad range of subjects (aged 15–25) was included, from low risk to frank psychosis. The design was not randomized on the basis of ethical considerations. Treatment consisted of familyaided assertive community treatment (FACT) and medication in the form...

Does exercise increase HDL cholesterol in those who need it the most?

The Health, Risk Factors, Exercise, Training, and Genetics (HERITAGE) Family Study is a landmark multicenter trial designed to examine the physiological changes produced by exercise training and how genetics contributes to the variation in the response to exercise.1 Families underwent physiological and biochemical assessment before and after 5 months of supervised aerobic exercise training. Thi...

Assist Those Most in Need, or Most of Those in Need? The Challenge of Allocative Efficiency for Aid Effectiveness

Against the current backdrop of declining aid budgets, the efficient allocation of aid is of crucial importance for its effectiveness. Allocative efficiency (aid is allocated where it has the largest impact) has become at least as important as operational efficiency (aid is used in a way that maximises results per unit of spending). Donors have committed in international forums in Paris (2005),...