Making markets work in the interest of patients

The Finnish health and social care system ranks high in international comparisons. However, like in many other European countries, owing to the ageing population and increasing health and social care needs, health expenditures are soaring and adding to the pressure to improve productivity in the provision of care.

The Finnish government is determined to reduce health and welfare disparities between regions and individuals through greater resourcing of public services over the coming years. At the same time, the government seeks to promote innovation across the economy, including in health and social care. The Ministry of Employment and Economic Affairs asked Copenhagen Economics to examine whether and how other countries have succeeded in using market-based systems as one of the ways of enhancing innovation and productivity whilst preserving a high standard of publicly funded health and social care services.

Our headline findings are summarised as follows:

The study is commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland.

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