Health expenditures in major industrialized countries, 1960-87

In this article, levels and changes in health care expenditures for Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States are analyzed. First, the levels and changes in the share of gross domestic product (GDP) devoted to health are reviewed in terms of the health-to-GDP ratio, nominal health expenditure and GDP growth, and changes in population and prices. Second, absolute levels of health spending denominated in U.S. dollars are compared over time. Finally, some concluding observations are made.