This is the first volume of a new annual series that will present policy-relevant economic research on health care and health policy issues. The emphasis will be on less technical papers written primarily for a policy audience. Each volume will contain approximately five papers from an annual conference to be held in spring in Washington, D.C. Topics to be covered include the implications of health care policy provisions, health care organization and management, health outcomes, health care output and productivity, health-related behavior, health and aging, and health and children.Contributors Laurence Baker, Ernst Berndt, David Cutler, Alan M. Garber, Thomas Macurdy, Mark Mc Clellan, Louise Sheiner, Richard Zeckhauser