The purpose of this book is to give readers convenient access to a collection of innovative applications of econometric methods to data on health and health care. The contributions are selected from papers presented at the European Workshops on Econometrics and Health Economics which have been published in Health Economics. The Workshops were established in York, with meetings in 1992 and 1993. Since then they have taken place annually, with locations in eight different European countries. Publication of the present volume marks the tenth anniversary of the Workshop series, the overall aim of which is to provide a forum for the development and dissemination of econometric methods in health economics. When the Workshops were first established. there were relatively few European researchers at the frontiers of quantitative research in the area. Advances in quantitative techniques and the increased availability of datasets and computing technology had created the potential for large returns from attracting more researchers into health econometrics. There are indications that these returns are now being reaped. Over the years, there has been a steady rise in the quantity and general quality of submissions received for each Workshop. We would like to thank everyone who has participated in the Workshop series, whether as an author or a discussant, and all of those who have reviewed papers for Health Economics. Our particular gratitude goes to the local organisers of the Workshops: Eddy van Doorslaer (Antwerp. 1994), Lise Rochaix (Paris. 1995), Guillem Lopez-Casasnovas (Barcelona, 1996). Joao Pereira (Lisbon, 1997), Unto Hakkinen and Miika Linna (Helsinki, 1998), Giacomo Pignataro and Ilde Rizzo (Catania. 1999) and Maarten Lindeboom and France Portrait (Amsterdam. 2000).