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Introduction to Health Economics and Policy
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:36:32
Abstract
Health expenditures constitute about 10% of GDP in OECD countries. Extensive government intervention is a typical feature in health markets. Risk factors to health have been changing with growing importance of lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity. This course gives an introduction to the economic concepts and empirical findings in health economics.
Objective
Introduce students without prior economic background to the main concepts of health economics and policy to enhance students understanding of how health care institutions and markets function. Please note that we will apply basic economic concepts to health care markets. Hence, master students with an economic background have to expect that a large share of the concepts will overlap with their previous courses. However, they are, of course, welcome to join the course.
Content
The course gives an introduction to the economic concepts and empirical findings in health economics to enhance students understanding of how health care institutions and markets function. Motivated by the fact that health care markets are designed differently across countries, this course looks at the challenges in regulating health care markets. First, two important decisions of individuals will be analyzed: What types and amount of personal health care services does an individual demand? How much will health insurance coverage be purchased? In the second part, the supply side of health care markets will be discussed. What are the financial incentives of physicians, and how do these influence physicians’ treatment choices? What does it mean and imply that a physician is an agent for a patient? The choices made by societies about how health care services are financed and about the types of organizations that supply health care will be addressed in the third part. One important choice is whether a country will rely on public financing of personal health care services or encourage private health insurance markets. How could and should a public health insurance system be designed? The advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives will be discussed to provide a framework for analyzing specific types of health care systems.
Resources
Literature
Jay Bhattacharya, Timothy Hyde, Peter Tu, "Health Economics", Palgrave Macmillan. Frank A. Sloan and Chee-Ruey Hsieh, "Health Economics", MIT Press.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
Introduction to Health Economics and Policy
Does not take place this semester.
|
No time listed | 16 h semesterly |
Offered In
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GESS Science in Perspective (Only the topics listed in this paragraph can be chosen as GESS Science in Perspective. Further below you will find the "type B courses Reflections about subject specific methods and content" as well as the language courses. 6 ECTS need to be acquired during the BA and 2 ECTS during the MA Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (Suitable for all students. Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses: Recommended for doctoral, master and bachelor students (after first-year examination only). Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again. These course units are also listed under "Type A", which basically means all students can enroll)
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Electives (A list with possible electives will be published separately.)
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Management, Technology and Economics Master (Welcome and Introduction to MSc ETH MTEC Montag, 14.09.2020, 14.00 h, HG E1.1 (tbc))