Description:

This modul provides a coherent introduction to health economics, focusing especially on health care demand and payment schemes in health care systems. It provides the tools to understand and evaluate current health economic problems as discussed in the media or in the public policy debate.

We use microeconomic methods to analyze how decisions are taken by actors in the health care system. The aim of the course is to provide the economic analytical tools needed to inform public policy debates about health and health care. We will examine a number of important policy issues, e.g., the consequences of ageing and the regulation of health insurance markets. We will also discuss lastest empirical evidence that allows making causal statements about the effectiveness of policies and health care system desing. 

The course requires a good knowledge of microeconomics. In addition, students should be familiar with regression analysis.

Learning Targets:

Students taking the course will: 

• understand the differences between health, health care goods and other goods.
• be able to assess health care systems and the need for regulation in such systems from an economic perspective
• be able to critically assess problems and provide suggestions with respect to the health care markets as discussed in the media or in the public policy debate
• have the tools to understand the empirical association between health, individual health production, medical infrastructure as well as environmental factors, as discussed in health economic journals

Outline:

Covered topics: 

• Economic Evaluation of Life and Health
• Individual Health Production
• Empirical Evidence on Individual Health Production
• Peculiarities of Health and Health Care Goods and their allocative consequences
• Payment Systems: Regulating Incentives for Health Care Providers
• Risk-Selection and Competition between Health Insurers

Literature:

Course is based on the literature: 

• Zweifel, P.; Breyer, F.; Kifman, M.  (2009): Health Economics, 2nd edition, Springer, Berlin.

Methods of Assessment:

Exam

Formalities:

Final written exam on lecture and tutorial content (usually 90-120 min).

For further information please contact Diem Hoang Xuan