96409 - Global Challenges in Public Finance and Health Policies

Learning outcomes

The emerging global financial, economic and health challenges highlight the unique role of government in serving the public interest. The objective of this course is to provide students with the tools needed for an in-depth understanding and critical assessment of a variety of global issues in health economics and public finance. Selected topics include the demand and supply of health care services; market failures and government intervention; tax and social insurance mechanism; inequalities and iniquities in health and health care.

Course contents

This course aims at providing students with critical elements to assess some of the issues that give rise to global challenges in public finance and health policies. At the end of the course, students will have an advanced knowledge on the following areas of research:

Modelling the demand for health and the health production function

Consumer information and agency

Provider payment and incentives 

Inequalities and iniquities in health and health care 

Global public finance

Readings/Bibliography

Lectures will be in English. The reference books are:

Folland, S., Goodman, A.C., and Stano, M., (2017), The Economics of Health and Health Care, Pearson Education (US), International eighth edition.

Glied, S., & Smith, P. C. (Eds.). (2013). The Oxford handbook of health economics. Oxford University Press.

Additional readings may include:

Keen, M., & Konrad, K. A. (2013). "The theory of international tax competition and coordination", in A. Auerbach, R. Chetty, M. Feldstein, and E. Saez (eds.), Handbook of public economics, Volume 5, North-Holland, Amsterdam.

Atkinson, A. B. (2014). "Global public economics", in A. B. Atkinson (eds.), Public economics in an age of austerity, Routledge, London.

A detailed syllabus and the additional material will be available at the beginning of the classes. Course program is the same independently of class attendance.

Teaching methods

Lectures with slides presentation.

During the classes students will be asked to give presentations of assigned papers.

Assessment methods

Assessment will be based on the presentation of an assigned reading and a final written exam.

The final exam counts for two thirds of your overall grade. For those students who opt out of the reading's presentation, the final grade will be based entirely on a longer version of the final written exam.

The maximum possible score is 30 cum laude, and the grade is graduated as follows:

<18 failed
18-23 sufficient
24-27 good
28-30 very good
30 e lode excellent

Details will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Artificial Intelligence may be a useful tool to support independent study through additional insights, summaries, and self-assessment activities. However, during in-person examinations, the use of AI is strictly prohibited. Any such use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Slide presentations.

Frontal lectures.

Students with specific learning disabilities (SpLDs) or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the relevant University office well in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ). The office will propose any appropriate accommodations to the students concerned. These must, in any case, be submitted to the instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance. The instructor will assess their suitability, also in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Rossella Verzulli