Course Details in 2022/23 Session

Module Title	LH Health Economics
School	Birmingham Business School
Department	Economics
Module Code	07 33158
Module Lead	Philip Kinghorn / Livia Menezes
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-40 hours Seminar-8 hours Guided independent study-152 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module provides an introduction to the theories and practice of health economics. The first part of the module considers how aspects of market failure influence the characteristics of healthcare systems, and the behaviour of individuals and organisations within such systems. Topics may include: the demand for health and healthcare, externalities, healthcare insurance and other finance mechanisms, incentives for doctors and hospitals, and National Health Service (NHS) policy evolution. The second part of the module focuses on economic evaluation and decision-making relating to resource prioritisation in the NHS. Economic evaluation is covered in terms of welfarism and extra-welfarism theories, and how these are applied in the methods for conducting cost-benefit analysis and cost-utility analysis, respectively. The third part of the module focuses on empirical research in health economics. It investigates topics such as the determinants of obesity, mental health problems, health-compromising behaviours, and cardio-vascular disease. Cross-country analyses will be carried out on the different health systems, and contemporary issues, such as whether health care is a luxury good, will be examined.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: demonstrate knowledge of economic theory underpinning health economics; compare economic evaluation methods used in healthcare settings; apply health economics to a variety of issues relating to health and healthcare; demonstrate knowledge of the econometric techniques typically used in health economics
Assessment	33158-01 : Class Test : Class Test (25%) 33158-02 : Coursework : Coursework (25%) 33158-03 : Exam : Exam (Centrally Timetabled) - Written Unseen (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1-hour test (25%); 1000-word essay (25%); 2-hour written unseen examination (50%). Reassessment: N/A
Other
Reading List