Course Name: Health Economics

Course Overview: This course introduces undergraduates with prior coursework in microeconomics to the field of health economics by covering issues related both to the demand for health, healthcare, and insurance, and to provider supply of healthcare services and insurance. The material is presented in a series of in-person lectures. Twelve written assignments and two exams will assess student understanding of the material.

Course Description: This course in health economics applies the analytical tools of microeconomics to various issues in health and healthcare. The first half of the course focuses on patient demand, and the second half focuses on provider supply. Topics covered in the former include the demand for health and healthcare, the demand for insurance, cost-effectiveness considerations, health equity, and externalities associated with certain health behaviors. Topics covered in the latter half of the course include the role of nonprofits, provider agency, provider competition versus concentration, insurer behavior, and the effects of government regulation of insurance.