Public choice and public health

Area of Science:

• Economics
• Public Health
• Political Science

Background:

• Limited engagement between public choice scholarship and public health issues.
• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates a re-evaluation of this intersection.
• Existing literature review on public choice relevant to public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize public choice scholarship concerning public health.
• To identify key themes at the intersection of public choice and public health.
• To inform future research and policy in public health through an economic lens.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of public choice studies applied to public health.
• Thematic analysis of identified scholarly works.
• Synthesis of findings related to regulation, resource allocation, and policy outcomes.

Main Results:

• Public health regulations are frequently shaped by private interests over public good.
• Allocation of public health resources often prioritizes private benefits.
• Public health policies can yield unintended negative consequences for health and consumer welfare.

Conclusions:

• Public choice perspectives offer critical insights into public health policy.
• Understanding private interests is vital for effective public health governance.
• Future research should focus on mitigating perverse effects and aligning policies with public welfare.