In an opinion column about improving the performance of doctors in the United States, a health economist observed that “it’s very hard to measure the things we really care about, like quality of life...

In an opinion column about improving the performance of

doctors in the United States, a health economist observed

that “it’s very hard to measure the things we really care

about, like quality of life and improvements in functioning.”

Why is it difficult to measure outcomes like these? Does

the economist’s observation have relevance to comparisons

in health outcomes across countries? Briefly explain.

Source: Aaron E. Carroll, “The Problem with ‘Pay for Performance’

in Medicine,” New York Times, July 28, 2014.