Introduction to Economics with Applications to Health and Development

GHP 230 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This course provides an overview of the microeconomic theories and concepts most relevant for understanding health and development. Each week of the course will cover basic concepts in economics with an application to health.

It describes how the markets for health and health services are different from other goods, with a particular emphasis on the role of government and market failure. In addition it discusses the theoretical and empirical aspects of key health economics issues, including the demand for health and health services, supply side concerns, health insurance, the provision of public goods, and related topics. The course encourages students to fundamentally and rigorously examine the role of the market for the provision of health and health services and how public policy can influence these markets.

At the completion of the course, you will:

1) Understand the basic intuition of microeconomics models of consumers, producers and welfare.
2) Understand market failures, their implications and solutions.
3) Be familiar with current issues in global health economics around the demand for health and health insurance.
4) Consume, discuss and write about economic studies of health and health care systems.

Priority Enrollment: Course is required for GHP-SM2, MPH45-GH. Any remaining seats will be available on a first-come first-serve basis. Students outside of HSPH must request instructor permission to enroll in this course.