79101 - Topics in Health Economics, Policy and Management

Learning outcomes

At the end of the learning activity, the student has a thorough view of the main directions of current research in health economics, policy and management. He/she attains the ability to develop critical and original views on both empirical and theoretical directions of research.

Course contents

The course will give Master students an overview of health economic concepts in the context of OECD health systems.  Some applications will also entail the current situation of Middle-and Low-Income countries and the role of Institutions of the global health architecture (such as World Bank, WHO, UNDP, etc.). Students, based on a number of real-world country examples will understand the role of markets in health care, market failures and how to deal with them from a policy perspective, the issues of access, equity and quality of health systems in the OECD and how to measure performance along these criteria.

By the end of the course the successful student will be able to better understand the role of the public and private sectors in health care, the macroeconomic context and fiscal space for health, the need for cross-sectoral investments to sustainably achieve health outcomes, the role of the state as a regulator, the ethical dimensions of health policy, including laws, regulations, coercion, nudging, and other state interventions such as incentives, taxes, subsidies and conditional cash transfer programs.

Readings/Bibliography

All necessary literature will be uploaded prior to the course and before specific reading and group work assignments.

Some voluntary reading prior to class below:

https://healthpowerhouse.com/media/EHCI-2018/

 

http://www.mhhe.com/karlan/pdf_chapters/kar11498_ch06_171-202.pdf

 

Teaching methods

The course will be taught in a classical lecture format in terms of face-to-face teaching. However, the class will be highly interactive, as class discussion will be the principle method of learning as opposed to frontal presentations. For this reason, it is imperative that students come to class well prepared in advance, having read the assigned literature. Small groups will be asked to present findings based on the assignments and lead the class discussion jointly with the professor. Students will be required to have name tags in class - to allow for a very interactive session. The use of PDAs, laptops and smartphones in class is highly discouraged as it impedes learning of individuals as well as overall class learning progress. 

Assessment methods

Active class participation and the quality of group work will be 50% of the final grade. The other 50% will be based on a short (one page) memo that students will be assigned towards the end of the course.

Teaching tools

The course will draw heavily on recently published scientific papers and reports.

Case studies and class discussions as well as group work analyzing the relevant assigned literature will be the core of the class, in addition to lectures about key elements of health economic concepts.

Office hours

See the website of Armin Fidler