70138 - Lifestyles and Health Outcomes

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student understands the health-related behavioral determinants and has an overview of some recent policies aimed at improving the population's lifestyles. He/she has adequate knowledge of: 1) the demand for health and health capital; 2) the behavioral determinants leading to unhealthy outcomes such as obesity and addiction; 3) the trade-offs between health and welfare objectives; 4) the policies aimed at changing health-related behavior and lifestyles. The course combines theoretical analysis and discussion of case-studies.

Course contents

The course combines theoretical analysis and discussion of case-studies on the following topics:

• The demand for health and health capital;
• The behavioral determinants leading to unhealthy outcomes such as obesity and addiction;
• The trade-offs between health and welfare objectives;
• Policies aimed at changing health-related behavior and lifestyles

Readings/Bibliography

The main reference is Cawley, J., Ruhm C. (2011). The Economics of Risky Health Behaviors, Handbook of Health Economics, Vol. 1, 1539-1627, Elsevier.

A useful reference is also Bhattacharya, Hyde, Tu (2013), Health Economics, Palgrave (Sections I, VI and VII).

Additional references will be given in class

Teaching methods

Standard lectures.

Copies of teaching materials (slides, exercises) will be published on the university platform VIRTUALE: https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Assessment methods

Final Written Exam

The final exam is designed to assess students' familiarity with the material covered in the course lectures. It will evaluate understanding of the theoretical content, knowledge of the main empirical facts discussed in class, and ability to critically discuss the findings of an academic paper.

The exam typically lasts about 90 minutes. Exam questions will closely follow the topics and examples covered during the course.

During the exam, students are NOT permitted to use any materials, including textbooks, lecture notes/slides, written notes, web-enabled or data storage devices, or smartphones. Students found with such items will be removed from the exam, and their work will not be graded.

Grading system

The grading system ranges from 0 to 30, with the highest possible score being 30 cum laude for completely correct, complete, and formally rigorous answers. The grading criteria are as follows:

• 30 cum laude: Excellent preparation and analytical skills, expressed in precise language; ability to critically analyze and link different concepts; mastery of specific terminology
• 27-30: Very good preparation and analytical skills, expressed in precise language; very good ability to critically analyze and link different concepts
• 24-27: Good preparation and analytical skills, expressed in formally correct language; some minor imprecision in the exposition and use of technical concepts.
• 21-24: Satisfactory preparation and analytical skills, expressed in formally correct language; some imprecisions in the exposition and use of technical concepts
• 18-21: Sufficient preparation and analytical skills, expressed in formally correct language; many imprecisions in the exposition and use of technical concepts
• 17 or less: Fail

Candidates must enroll for exams via the University's electronic service, AlmaEsami. Exam marks will be published on AlmaEsami.

After the exams, students have the right to review their scripts by attending the lecturer’s office hour.

Students may reject their final grade for the course only once. The deadline for notifying the course lecturer of the intention to reject the mark will be communicated when the exam results are published. Notification must be sent in writing (by email). After the specified date, marks will be electronically registered (verbalizzato).

Office hours

See the website of Davide Dragone