2.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course covers core topics in health economics and health policy that are relevant for low and middle-income countries. Growing prosperity, changing epidemiology and government efforts like universal health coverage are transforming developing countries’ health systems to become increasingly complex and sophisticated. The goal of this course is for students to gain insight to how economic theory helps us understand health behaviors and health markets, and how economic tools can be used to make better health policy decisions. The course uses lectures, readings and class discussions to expose students to academic and policy research on current and imminent issues in health policy. It examines core theoretical aspects that are directly relevant for policy and/or empirical analysis. Topics covered in this course include: demand for health care; health behaviors; models of health care providers; provider payment systems; public and private health insurance; and quality of care. Some topics will draw on research from high-income countries, as needed and with appropriate abstraction and application to international settings. This is a graduate level course in health economics; students are expected to be comfortable reading applied economics papers and have a solid in empirical research designs, including causal inference. Substantive preparation and class participation is expected. <a href="http://bit.ly/1bebp5s" target="_blank">Click here to see evaluations, syllabi, and faculty bios</a>