DALMINE
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course introduces the study of economic analysis applied to health and healthcare markets.
The healthcare sector is one of the most important sectors within the economic systems of developed countries: for use of resources, employment, impact on growth and complexity of production processes. The efficient management of resources is based on the study of the many features that make the healthcare sector unique, as compared to other sectors of the economy.
After completing the course the student will acquire:
- the basic tools to study the behavior of economic agents and their interactions,
- methodological knowledge to evaluate the allocation of resources within the healthcare sector,
- the ability to analyse and find solution to problems in healthcare markets,
- knowledge of the main types of healthcare systems and their peculiarities
Course Prerequisites
Attendance of the Mathematical analysis course is recommended.
Teaching Methods
The course consists of theoretical lectures (4 hours per week) and exercise sessions (1,5 hours per week). Students will learn by attending classes, revising notes and material provided by the teacher, and reading the main textbook. Weekly revision tests will be available online.
Assessment Methods
The final exam, which lasts one hour, is written and administered on a computer. It consists of multiple-choice questions regarding theory and short numerical exercises, equally distributed across the topics of the course (1-2 questions for each weekly topic). There is no mid-term exam.
Contents
The course starts with the study of health as an economic good and its determinants, and focuses on the behavior and the choice of economic agents as with respect to the consumption of healthcare, including choices under uncertainty and the role of health insurance. Later, the course will deal with the choice of inputs of production, the technology and costs for the production of healthcare. The following issue will be the analysis of the main market structures and the organization of healthcare systems. Finally, students will address healthcare market failures (externalities and asymmetric information). More in details:
PART I: BASIC ECONOMIC TOOLS
Introduction to economics and the economics of health and healthcare: production, allocative efficiency and production possibility frontier, economic systems, economic view of health and healthcare
PARTE II: DEMAND AND SUPPLY
Basic elements of demand and supply; consumer choices; the demand for medical care; risk and uncertainty: the role of health insurance; production and technology; cost analysis; economic evaluation of healthcare programs and medical technologies
PARTE III: MARKETS AND EFFICIENCY
Profit maximizations, equilibrium and efficiency in competitive markets;
Monopoly; discriminatory and segmentation practices
PARTE IV: HEALTH CARE MARKET FAILURES AND GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
The reasons for government intervention in health care markets; asymmetry of information; externality; equity
Online Resources
More information
The attendance of lectures, the weekly revision of the relevant material, and the completion of online tests (available upon completion of each topic for only few days) are highly recommended for the effective preparation of the final exam.