C8390 - HUMAN RESOURCES IN HEALTHCARE

Academic Year 2026/2027

  • Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Economics and Public Policy (cod. 6758)

Learning outcomes

This course presents fundamental economic theory and modelling behind management decisions taken in healthcare organizations. Specific case studies will be considered among HRM issues, clinical decision making, investment decisions. The general approach will structure management decision around the analysis of implied tradeoffs and constraints on available resources after having set the stage by presenting selected empirical evidence. The second part focuses on organizational design pertaining to the specific management decisions considered in healthcare organizations.

Course contents

The economics of Human Resources management in health organizations:

  • Introduction to basic economics reasoning concerning key aspects of an employment relationship
  • Recruiting employees (selection)
  • Training employees
  • Retaining or dismissing employees
  • Designing an employee’s job and career
  • Evaluating employees
  • Providing incentives to employees (motivation)

Readings/Bibliography

Lazear, E. P., & Gibbs, M. (2014). Personnel economics in practice (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Teaching methods

Class lectures in which I hope to stimulate a lively discussion focused on real life examples.

Class participation is highly welcome.

Assessment methods

Students will be asked to give a short 10-minute presentation on a problematic case study of their choice. They are expected to critically apply or evaluate the concepts discussed in class to propose viable solutions.

Teaching tools

See material on Virtuale

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Carlo Michele Ichino