This paper provides a detailed historical account of research on the efficiency of health care systems based on a review of over 600 papers. Articles are divided into three main categories whose evolution differed significantly since the 1960’s: theoretical and methodological contributions, empirical analysis, and analytical and critical reviews. More than 75% of the articles reviewed are either entirely or mainly empirical and 22% of them consist of analytical and critical reviews. From this last category, two main conclusions stand out, i.e. unstable results because of the various methodologies used as well as the absence of a consensus on existing efficiency measures.
Ouellette, P., Petit P., Efficience budgétaire des institutions de santé, Centre for Productivity and Prosperity, HEC Montréal, April 2010. (Available in French only)
