Comments for Per Bylund Commentary

Comment on Public vs. Private Health Care: A Case Study by Mopho

Mopho — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:37:32 +0000

Are there many Swedes who are refused medical treatment? I would rather wait for being assessed by a physician, as opposed to not getting any treatment at all.

Comment on Public vs. Private Health Care: A Case Study by David EA

David EA — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:47:25 +0000

Per,

Interesting observations. I also have experiences of Swedish (and Danish) hospitals, but my standard of comparison is Taiwan, where I live at present. The difference between Sweden and Taiwan is mainly that there are many more private hospitals, and that the consumer (patient) usually has to choose between a number of hospitals and clinics, most of which are private. You bring your “national health insurance” card, which is registered at the reception, and where you have to pay a nominal fee (as in Sweden but lower).

However, it’s interesting that the decentralized private provision of health care has resulted in the virtual elimination of waiting. I have never had to wait more than ten minutes for medical attention, whether by a nurse or a doctor (and you will usually get examined by a physician within one hour, even if you turn up at a major urban hospital in the middle of the night). It is also interesting to notice the product differentiation that has appeared as a result of producer rivalry. As an example, the university hospital in the town where I live (Tainan) specializes in competence/specialists at the expense of design and complementary non-health services. Another hospital I once went to didn’t have as many specialists, but had a hotel-like reception with a player piano and an attractive cafe next to the lobby. Meanwhile, small local clinics tend to have only one or two physicians, two nurses, and a reception area that offers a television set and newspapers (like the average dentist). These smaller clinics often locate next door to 7-eleven convenience stores, where patients can go and get snacks, coffee etc. Interestingly, one can usually get one’s medicine from an on-site pharmacy (even in the smallest clinics), where medicine is packaged to exactly correspond to the prescription.

Altogether, my impression is that supply-side competion offers much better service quality in Taiwan than in Sweden, even though both systems are mostly tax-funded (in Taiwan’s case, a compulsory health insurance fee that is listed as a separate deduction from your gross salary).

Comment on Public vs. Private Health Care: A Case Study by Chris Mallory

Chris Mallory — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:46:00 +0000

What is the minority population in Sweden? I dare say once it reaches 30% like in the US, the standard of care will drop rapidly.

Comment on Public vs. Private Health Care: A Case Study by Lord Metroid

Lord Metroid — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:18:00 +0000

According to what I have heard on Free Talk Live, more than half of all money going into the medical services are paid for by the government in the states,

Comment on On Comprehensive Exams by H

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:35:38 +0000

All tests are just a call/response exercise. They never test what the student knows, just whether or not the student understands what the teacher/test writer wants to hear.
Real learning is supposed to be an information exchange. The student finds out what the teacher can provide and the teacher learns why the student wanted to know that in the first place and if the new information has changed anything. You can’t download learning nice and pat like we’re standard issue robots.
In a true free market exchange, the teacher/student is a business interaction. “What do you have to teach?” “Why do you want to know? How are you going to use it?” When both questions get answered satisfactorily, no currency is required to change hands because there has already been even payment.

Comment on On Comprehensive Exams by gyakusetsu

gyakusetsu — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:56:15 +0000

Glad to see you are still posting!

Comment on Why Economists’ Predictions are Always Wrong by Dan

Dan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:22:47 +0000

Gerald Celente , to me , comes across as having a formulation that has been tested many times to affirm it’ accuracy.
His motto is -todays shaping events forcasts tommorrows trends :

http://www.trendsresearch.com/

Comment on Money Is the Root of All Evil by Business Tax Guru

Business Tax Guru — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:51:08 +0000

I’ve been engaged in taxes for longer then I care to acknowledge, both on the individualized side (all my working lifetime!!) and from a legal point of view since satisfying the bar and following tax law. I’ve provided a lot of advice and corrected a lot of wrongs, and I must say that what you’ve put up makes impeccable sense. Please continue the good work – the more people know the better they’ll be outfitted to deal with the tax man, and that’s what it’s all about.

Comment on Why Economists’ Predictions are Always Wrong by Sam Liddicott

Sam Liddicott — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:37:54 +0000

I think many investors were expecting the economic downturn.

I had around 18th months notice of it and wasn’t surprised when it happened.

Of course the principles of preparedness are timeless, but it is not knowledge of these that were my warning, but incidental words from financial investors of a big collapse on it’s way in 2008.

I suppose it is true to say that if you are not paying for good financial advice, there is no-one inclined to give it to you.

and… non-financially inclined individuals may find it hard to tell who is (a) qualified, and
(b) likely, to give them good advice
– and such individuals are not likely to be able to recognize and act on said advice.

todays financial frameworks are not run for my benefit, thats for sure

Comment on The Scary World of Self-Proclaimed Scholars by Justin

Justin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:37:01 +0000

Interesting posting. Here’s a good book somewhat along these lines: Disciplined Minds, by Jeff Schmidt: http://disciplinedminds.tripod.com/.