Health Economics provides an advanced understanding of the economic principles and analytical tools applied to healthcare systems, policies and markets. Through theoretical lectures, case studies and empirical exercises, students learn to evaluate the allocation of healthcare resources, financing mechanisms and the impact of policy interventions on health outcomes.
The course aims at providing students with basic economic concepts to understand health care market and the role played by asymmetric information in affecting market equilibrium. Students will learn how to apply economic analysis to evaluate public and private policies.
The course aims to:
Equip students with the ability to apply economic analysis to health and healthcare;
Develop competence in economic evaluation methods
Foster critical assessment of health financing systems and policy reforms
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
Apply demand and supply analysis to healthcare market
Evaluate the efficiency and equity implications of different health financing models (e.g., out-of-pocket payments, insurance schemes, tax-based systems)
Conduct economic evaluation of health interventions
Critically appraise the design and impact of major health policy interventions (e.g., DRG payments, tariffs, retrospective cost-reimbursement)
There are no specific requirements
Lectures and exercises
Introduction to Economics and Health Economics
Characteristics of Health as an Economic Good
Health Financing Systems and Recent Reforms
Health Insurance: Risk, Uncertainty, and Information Asymmetry
Economic Evaluation Methods
The course is structured around teacher’s handouts and original papers, which will be made available by aulaweb.
Ricevimento: Students may contact the professor by e-mail Office hours may be held either in person or via Microsoft Teams, depending on student preference
MARCELLO MONTEFIORI (President)
BARBARA CAVALLETTI
LUCIA LEPORATTI (President Substitute)
https://corsi.unige.it/11159/p/studenti-orario
The timetable for this course is available here: EasyAcademy
Written exam: multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions, and exercises
Continuous assessment: Two written mid-term assessment — one mid-course and one at the end — provide ongoing feedback on students’ understanding and progress
Final examination (alternative): A single written exam may be taken instead of the intermediate tests
Lecture Delivery Mode: lectures will be delivered in person and will not be available via webinar. However, all sessions will be recorded through Microsoft Teams to accommodate students who, for work or family reasons, are unable to attend live Attendance: Participation in classes is optional; there is no distinction between attending and non-attending students in terms of assessment
Language of assessment: Students may choose to take their tests in either English or Italian
Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule
