Health and the Economy

What We're Thinking

New England, home to some of the world's best medical research facilities and brightest practitioners, serves as an incubator for the nation's health care research. Health care in New England also faces the serious challenges confronting health care throughout the U.S. – escalating costs that strain the budgets of government, employers and families. NEHI research is focused on finding ways to balance the region’s overall economic competitiveness with the needs of the health care sector, which employs 25 percent of New England's workforce and is critically linked to growth industries in the life sciences.

By developing strategies to address its practical needs, including attracting and retaining talent and fostering innovation, we can ensure the vitality of New England's health care industry -- for the sake of patients everywhere.

What We're Doing

Healthy People in a Healthy Economy: A Blueprint for Action in Massachusetts

Our comprehensive blueprint outlines what we need to do in schools, the workplace and the community to break the cycle of chronic disease and reactive behavior.

The Boston Paradox: Lots of Health Care, Not Enough Health

Health care resources are being devoted to treatment -- and not prevention -- of chronic disease, which is impacting economic competitiveness.

Super Cluster: Ideas, Perspectives and Updates from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Industry

The Massachusetts life sciences "super cluster" -- the industry and academic sectors which touch and enhance the life sciences -- should be supported so it can continue to provide a sustainable economic foundation for the commonwealth.

The Economic Contributions of the Health Care Industry to the New England Region

New England must take steps to maintain its national leadership in health care employment, reverse the decline in employment growth and make the region more attractive to health care employers.

On the Critical List: Health Care Job Vitality in New England

Given New England's historic stronghold in key segments of the health care industry and its importance to the wellbeing of the region's economy and citizens, it is critical that measures are taken to reinvigorate growth and to ensure New England's strength from bench to bedside.