Health Economics

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The course is designed to illustrate how economists analyze topics related to the production of health and the delivery of health care in the United States. Topics covered include the social and economic determinants of health, the economic control of unhealthy behavior, economic consequences of the AIDS epidemic, using economics ot explain the rise of obesity, economic models of insurance, the problems of moral haszard and adverse selection, the economic impact of employer-provided health insurance. Medicare and Medicaid, the problem of the unisured, medical technology and the pharmaceutical industry, the malpractice system, and the rise of managed care. Readings for the class will come from a required textbook and academic readings downloadable from the class web page. Class assignments will include problem sets, exams and short policy memos.