Typologies of Healthcare Systems and Policies

Abstract

The emergence of the study of healthcare systems and policy as an international field of research is closely intertwined with the cross-country comparative per- spective. This connection dates back to the historical beginnings of the field: In a search for solutions to common problems, international organizations like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have always strongly promoted the systematic study of healthcare systems and poli- cies in an international context. Comparison seems to offer a natural laboratory for identifying `best practices'.