Overview
Principles of economic decision making in health including microeconomic foundations, demand and supply analysis, taxation, subsidies and policy options of health care, market failures and evaluation of health systems performance.
In this paper, students will be introduced to the concepts and principles underpinning the market for health care and learn about the policy tools available for regulating the market and incentivising behaviour. Concepts such as competition, economics of scale, marginal and opportunity cost, efficiency and equity will be covered. The reasons why the health care market can fail, including monopolies, problems with health insurance, adverse selection, moral hazard, information asymmetry and externalities will be discussed.
Using real world examples, students will gain an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of various policy options, including payment incentives/disincentives, co-payments, capitation, taxation, subsidies and regulation. The paper will conclude with an overview of different health systems and their comparative performance.
About this paper
| Paper title | The Economics of Health Policy Decision Making |
|---|---|
| Subject | Public Health |
| EFTS | 0.125 |
| Points | 15 points |
| Teaching period(s) | 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 17 April 2025)
(On campus)
1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 17 April 2025) (On campus) 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 17 April 2025) (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,644.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Limited to
- MA, MHealSc, MPH, MSc, DPH, PGDipArts, PGDipHealMgt, PGDipHealSc, PGDipPHC, PGCertPH, PGCertPHC
- Eligibility
- Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline or recognised equivalent.
- Contact
Wellington Campus: publichealth.wellington@otago.ac.nz
Christchurch Campus: publichealth.christchurch@otago.ac.nz
Dunedin Campus: publichealth.dunedin@otago.ac.nz- More information link
- View more information on postgraduate studies in Public Health
- Teaching staff
Wellington Campus: William Leung
Christchurch Campus: TBC
Dunedin Campus: Associate Professor Trudy Sullivan (Overall Convener) and Dr Erin Penno
- Paper Structure
Topics:
- Introduction to health economics, cost analysis, and demand and supply analysis.
- The demand for health care and analysis of policy options.
- Health care markets and market failure.
- The justification for (and possible failure of) government intervention.
- Policy options and market mechanisms for health care supply.
- Health care systems and comparative performance.
- Teaching Arrangements
Friday mornings, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Textbooks
- Text to be confirmed. Please contact the Department.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Demonstrate and apply understanding of basic microeconomic principles and concepts to selected issues in health care decision making.
- Apply economic analysis to selected issues in health care markets and to options for government policy and regulation.
- Demonstrate and apply understanding of the economic context in which health services function, with particular reference to publicly-funded health services in New Zealand.
- Demonstrate and apply economic analysis of selected types of health care markets, economic incentives/disincentives, payment options and different systems of financing health care services.
- Assessment details
Assessment:
- Assignment: 40%
- Exam: 60%