Health Economics - ECO00052H
Module summary
This module will provide students with a comprehensive grounding in the economics of health and health care. Broadly, health economics is concerned with the allocation of scarce resources to improve health; the distribution of health in society; and how individuals make choices over health-related behaviours. You will use a mix of theory and empirical examples to explore these issues.
Related modules
Additional information
The module relies on reviewing published literature, much of which will have an empirical component. While a background in econometric methods is not a prerequisite, students without a strong quantitative grounding may struggle with the course content.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
This modules aims to:
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provide training in the use of economic analysis to problems and phenomena associated with health and health care.
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develop your ability through the application of economic concepts to critically evaluate health systems, policies,, and decision making in health care
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familiarise you with theoretical and empirical research methods in health economics
Module learning outcomes
On completing the module a student will be able to:
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appreciate why health economics exists as a sub-discipline of economics
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understand, evaluate and interpret the major theories and empirical work in the field
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apply economic frameworks to problems and phenomena associated with health and health care and understand how these models are used in practice to inform policy debates
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evaluate current health policies within a formal economic framework
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recognise the various trade-offs between efficiency and equity in health and health care
Module content
Learning will be arranged around five themes, each supported with a seminar, together with introduction and revision lectures.
Module outline
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Introduction to health economics (2 hours)
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Theme 1: The economics of health behaviours (4 hours)
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The demand for health, economics of obesity, taxation
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Theme 2: Socio-economic disparities in health and health care (4 hours)
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Equity in health, health care utilisation, waiting times and health care financing
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Theme 3: Health system design (4 hours)
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Health insurance, organisation of health care
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Theme 4: Health technology assessment and pharmaceuticals (4 hours)
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Methods for economic evaluation
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The economics of pharmaceuticals
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Theme 5: Global health (2 hours)
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Global health and macroeconomic relationships
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Revision lecture (1 hour)
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
Formative assessment will take place during the module baked on draft essay answers to questions posed to students. Questions will be provided for each of the five themes covered and students will choose which question and theme they wish to address. Questions will be set at a standard equivalent to the summative assessment.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback will be provided in line with University policy
Indicative reading
Recommended reading will be drawn from a mixture of book chapters (primarily from two text on health economics), and published peer-reviewed papers. Examples include:
Text book:
Folland, S., Goodman, A.C., Stano, M. (2013) The Economics of Health and Health Care, Pearson, 7th Edition.
Zweifel, P., Breyer, F., Kifman, M. (2009). Health Economics, Springer, 2nd Edition.
Peer-reviewed papers:
Cutler, D., Lleras-Muney, A. (2010) Understanding differences in health behaviours by education. Journal of Health Economics, 29(1): 1-28.
Manning, W., Newhouse, J., Duan, N., Keeler, E., Leibowitz, A., Marquis, M. (1987). Health insurance and the demand for medical care:evidence from a randomized experiment. The American Economic Review. 77(3): 251-277.
Propper, C., Burgessm S., Green, K. (2004). Does competition between hospitals improve quality of care? Journal of Public
Economics, 88: 247-272.
Ruhm, C. (2012) Understanding overeating and obesity. Journal of Health Economics, 31: 781-796