Archive for August 19th, 2009

Excluding murders and auto accidents, the U.S. ranks 1st in life expectancy …

August 19, 2009

Ken’s Take: I guess the answer is fewer doctors, more police …

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Excerpted from Chicago Tribune, What’s Scary About Health Care Reform?,  August 16, 2009

Pres Obama says constantly that the United States spends more per person on medical care than any other nation,  but “the quality of our care is often lower, and we aren’t any healthier. In fact, citizens in some countries that spend substantially less than we do are actually living longer than we do.”

It’s true that the United States spends more on health care than anyone else, and it’s true that we rank below a lot of other advanced countries in life expectancy.

Overall Rank / Country / Life expectancy
  3  Japan 82.12  
  7  Australia 81.63  
  8  Canada 81.23 
  9  France 80.98 
10  Sweden 80.86  
11  Switzerland 80.85  
13  Israel 80.73  
19  Italy 80.20 
23  Spain 80.05 
24  Norway 79.95
26  Greece 79.66  
27  Austria 79.50  
30  Netherlands 79.40 
31 Luxembourg 79.33  
32 Germany 79.26 
33 Belgium 79.22  
36 United Kingdom 79.01 
37 Finland 78.97  
40 Korea, South 78.72  
46 Denmark 78.30  
47 Ireland 78.24 
48 Portugal 78.21  
50 United States 78.11

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html 

But, the juxtaposition of the two facts, however, doesn’t prove we are wasting our money or doing the wrong things.

It only proves that lots of things affect mortality besides medical treatment.

One big reason our life expectancy lags is that Americans have an unusual tendency to perish in homicides or accidents.

We are 12 times more likely than the Japanese to be murdered and nearly twice as likely to be killed in auto wrecks.

In their 2006 book, “The Business of Health,” economists Robert L. Ohsfeldt and John E. Schneider set out to determine where the U.S. would rank in life span among developed nations if homicides and accidents are factored out. Their answer? If homicides and accidents are factored out, the U.S. is in first place.

That discovery indicates our health care system is doing a poor job of preventing shootouts and drunk driving but a good job of healing the sick.

For example, the U.S. has the highest survival rates for lung, breast, prostate, colon and rectum cancers.

Full article:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/08/16/whats_scary_about_health_care_reform_97901.html

Posted in Health Care / Medical Insurance | Leave a Comment »

How (and why) consumers drive American innovation …

August 19, 2009

Excerpted from “Consumers Drive American Innovation”,  John Quelch,  Marketing KnowHow, March 31, 2009

Marketing, a distinctly American expertise, has of encouraged consumers to be venturesome and to welcome innovation.

The willingnes of American consumers to adopt new products, new processes and new services more rapidly than consumers in other countries may be the most important of all enablers of entrepreneurship and innovation in America.

Why is the American consumer more venturesome? Six factors come to mind.

Wealth. The average American consumer has more disposable income than his counterparts in most other countries. There is therefore money available, with easy credit historically fueling the fire, to risk on new things and new experiences. And the secondary market, from the flea auction to eBay, is well developed so the consumer does not necessarily lose everything if disappointed.

Mobility. American consumers relocate more than most. What they own, how they dress, what they do. In other words their consumption behavior, becomes an important signaling device to attract efficiently the right set of new friends and acquaintances. It’s not so much a matter of keeping up with the Jones’s; it’s a matter of quickly identifying the Jones’s like you.

Immigration. The prevalence of immigrants among America’s successful entrepreneurs is well-documented. But the same curiosity and openness to new things also characterizes consumer demand in the American melting pot.

Independence. The American frontier tradition and the sheer number of Americans promotes an attention to individual differentiation that is less prevalent in more conformist and homogeneous societies. Among 300 million curious consumers, it is possible for almost any innovation to find a viable niche market.

Recognition. Americans are not overly concerned or burdened by history. Many live for today or for the next new thing. Early adopters and lead users of new products are listened to and applauded. Their opinions are sought on the Internet. They can accelerate adoption of a new product or kill it. The American maverick commands more influence than the European eccentric.

Technology. Americans understand that innovation is the key to growth and wealth in a global economy where knowledge travels at lightspeed over the Internet. America’s economic strength is based on innovation. Proud parents take their children to science fairs, new electronic gizmos dominate Christmas gift sales, and senior citizens find renewed connectivity with far-flung families by going on line. Americans know technology adds value to daily life.

Bottom line: Venturesome consumers have an appetite for innovation …

Full article:
http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/quelch/2009/03/how_consumers_drive_american_i.html

Posted in Mktg - Product & Innovation | Leave a Comment »

Re: End-of-life … Bumper sticker says it all …

August 19, 2009

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Posted in Health Care / Medical Insurance | Leave a Comment »