The economics of prevention: Why an ounce is worth a pound

We repeat the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” as if it were a folksy reminder to eat better or get a flu shot. But taken seriously, it is not a medical cliché. It is an economic law. And it exposes a devastating flaw in how modern societies choose to spend money.

Prevention is not the opposite of cure. Cure is essential, lifesaving, and often extraordinary. …

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