However, I would like a more direct confrontation of the argument that professional fees "should be cut".
Point 1.
Who is going to cut them ? Is it envisaged that Government will order GPs to reduce their charges ?
Point 2.
Where Government is the purchaser of the service, it can of course refuse to buy at the "old" price. Presumably, it will offer to pay a lower price. This will often lower the cost, but it will also affect the quality of service-providers.
Point 3
If Government will not - because it recognises the economic lunacy of the idea - or cannot (because so many prices are individually negotiated) fix prices, is the economist community really saying that there is a pricing issue AND that it is insoluble ?
Point 4
Anyone answering must address the issues of the large numbers of unemployed, and under-employed, lawyers and of unfilled vacancies in the health service
Your points are well-made, as usual.
However, I would like a more direct confrontation of the argument that professional fees "should be cut".
Point 1.
Who is going to cut them ? Is it envisaged that Government will order GPs to reduce their charges ?
Point 2.
Where Government is the purchaser of the service, it can of course refuse to buy at the "old" price. Presumably, it will offer to pay a lower price. This will often lower the cost, but it will also affect the quality of service-providers.
Point 3
If Government will not - because it recognises the economic lunacy of the idea - or cannot (because so many prices are individually negotiated) fix prices, is the economist community really saying that there is a pricing issue AND that it is insoluble ?
Point 4
Anyone answering must address the issues of the large numbers of unemployed, and under-employed, lawyers and of unfilled vacancies in the health service
Excellent point Fergus. Can I ask you to put this up on the Guardian site? The discussion is great there at the moment.