Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2001
Economic guidelines recommend methods that should be employed in conducting economic evaluations of healthcare programs. The nature of the efficiency or equity goal underpinning economic guidelines is unclear. What is also unclear is how the methods recommended in the guidelines are linked to the underlying efficiency or equity goal being targeted. If it is unclear what efficiency/equity objectives are being pursued, then it is unlikely that even full implementation of economic guidelines will improve resource allocation.