Having been unable to counter the original point of the post (that Berwick is an advocate of central government planning), you now want to change the subject to the tired “health care is special� meme.

That you trundle out that hoary talking point confirms (1) the accuracy of last year’s survey showing that progressives tend to be illiterate in economics and (2) that you have surrendered on your initial claim about Berwick.

“It’s a popular idea: that Adam Smith’s invisible hand would do a better job of designing care than leaders with plans can. I do not agree. I find little evidence anywhere that market forces, bluntly used, that is, consumer choice among an array of products with competitors’ fighting it out, leads to the health care system you want and need. In the US, competition has become toxic; it is a major reason for our duplicative, supply-driven, fragmented care system. Trust transparency; trust the wisdom of the informed public; but, do not trust market forces to give you the system you need. I favor total transparency, strong managerial skills, and accountability for improvement. I favor expanding choices. But, I cannot believe that the individual health care consumer can enforce through choice the proper configurations of a system as massive and complex as health care. That is for leaders to do”

I agree with that. I guess the idea that I accept Kenneth Arrow’s famous analysis of the factors that differentiate the health care market from the classic model of perfectly efficient self-clearing markets makes me a Bolshie like Dr. Berwidk.

However, no (objective) person can read his many writings about “cost control” and “efficiency” and avoid the conclusion that he’s an old-fashioned central planning advocate.