Free Exchange On Health Care

The Economist's Free Exchange blog is on a roll. Among the wonkish economics arguments, they write:

The main things I think America gets for its extra money are shorter wait times, more lavishly appointed hospitals, richer health-care workers, greater variety of treatments, more "quality of life" treatments, and much greater innovation. Indeed, not only do they get innovation, but the rest of the world does too, which is why few people have noticed that their systems stifle innovation. I've never quite understood why people in other countries urge their systems on Americans, when the end result seems almost certain to be lower future quality of their own healthcare.

All of this strikes me as clearly correct, though it's worth noting that Canada could benefit from increased retention of health care workers if the US moves toward socialized medicine. More insightful analysis like this (and this) and less silliness, please.