Health Care Inefficiency Keeps the Economy Going

From Business Week (via Kevin Drum):

But the very real problems with the health-care system mask a simple fact: Without it the nation's labor market would be in a deep coma. Since 2001, 1.7 million new jobs have been added in the health-care sector, which includes related industries such as pharmaceuticals and health insurance. Meanwhile, the number of private-sector jobs outside of health care is no higher than it was five years ago.

Tell me about it. On the other hand, one could credibly argue that job growth in the U.S. is being retarded by the lack of affordable health insurance for anyone who doesn't work for a large firm -- like, say, an insurance company.

Tags: health care, economy, jobs