A Look at the Healthcare Market in the United States, with a Focus on Primary Care

Abstract

This paper looks into the many aspects of healthcare that impact primary care and the health industry as whole. It reviews multiple studies that discuss healthcare as a public good and the market structure of the US health industry. Furthermore, the paper seeks to find solutions to address primary care physician shortage through theories in economics, but recognizes that this approach alone will not solve the issue. Often selfish, humans have a tendency to be profit driven, and forget about how the decisions they make in their self-interest impact the society as a whole. In this context, there are clearly some groups of people that are benefiting more than others. This paper uses economic ideas to make a case for why "good business" and high profit is not actually beneficial to the entire society.