MPV_ITHE Introduction to Health Economics

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Autumn 2024

The course is not taught in Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Jakub Hlávka, Ph.D., M.A. (seminar tutor)
doc. Ing. Mgr. Jana Soukopová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Ing. Mgr. Jana Soukopová, Ph.D.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Jana Biskupová
Supplier department: Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Prerequisites
none
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This is an introductory course for the Applied Health Economics program. It covers key issues in health economics and health care delivery, and prepares students for further study of economic methods and applied topics in healthcare.
Learning outcomes
Students will:
1) Understand health economic principles, market failures and theories associated with them
2) Understand functioning of health systems in developed countries, their fundamentals and recent developments
3) Understand measurements of health status, health system performance and efficiency
4) Understand efficiency measurements of healthcare providers
5) Use economic theory to explain motivation and behavior of individual stakeholders
6) Use health economic theory and empirical findings to discuss up-to-date issues of health systems in developed countries
7) Assess proposed health policy and/or health systems changes using health economic theory and findings
8) Gain insight into empirical modelling in healthcare – most frequently used methods to assess health economics reforms and phenomena
9) Learn about health datasets and analytic strategies in select health economics research areas
10) Develop soft skills such as communication, active listening, time management, teamwork and critical thinking crucial in problem solving in healthcare organizations, with care providers or in policy making
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction (Health Economics in the Context of Public Economics)
  • 2. Demand for Health (Human Capital/Grossman Model)
  • 3. Health Insurance, Moral Hazard, Adverse Selection and Uncertainty
  • 4. Competition of Providers, Efficiency Measures, Payment and Reimbursement
  • 5. Healthcare Labor Market, Differences in the EU and Payment Incentives
  • 6. Governments and the Private Sector: Different Roles in Healthcare Delivery, Market Failures
  • 7. Comparison of Various Healthcare Financing Models, Evaluation and Tradeoffs
  • 8. Empirical Research in Health Economics: Overview and Datasets Available
  • 9. Health Technology Assessment: Measuring Costs and Benefits in Healthcare
  • 10. The Economics of Innovation: Prices, R&D Incentives and International Competition
  • 11. The Wicked Problem: Reducing Costs, Improving Population Health, Improving Patient Experience and Quality of Care
  • 12. Final Review
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Grossman, M. (1972). On the concept of health capital and the demand for health. Journal of Political Economy, 80(2), 223-255.
  • Rauchhaus, R. W. (2009). Principal-agent problems in humanitarian intervention: Moral hazards, adverse selection, and the commitment dilemma. International Studies Quarterly, 53(4), 871-884.
  • Aron-Dine, A., Einav, L., & Finkelstein, A. (2013). The RAND Health Insurance Experiment, three decades later. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 27(1), 197-222.
  • Harper, S. (2014). Economic and social implications of aging societies. Science, 346(6209), 587-591.
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, presentations, group project, homework and readings
Assessment methods
Class Participation (10%)
Research Proposal (10%)
Midterm Exam (25%)
Analytic Project (25%)
Final Exam (30%)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
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