Scott Alexander summarizes various responses to his post on 'cost disease', presenting diverse explanations for dramatic cost increases in healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Longer summary
Scott Alexander summarizes and responds to various commentators' explanations for the 'cost disease' phenomenon he described in a previous post, where costs for healthcare, education, and infrastructure have risen dramatically over time without corresponding improvements in quality. The post presents diverse perspectives from economists, bloggers, and readers, exploring theories ranging from administrative bloat and regulatory burden to market failures and changes in societal expectations.
Shorter summary