ECON 375 : Health Economics

Business and Economics

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines questions around whether health can be bought, the impacts of pandemics such as COVID-19 and ways to respond. Focuses on issues related to the demand for health, infectious disease and demand for immunisation, health insurance and the medical care market. Explores some health care policies and their implications in developing and developed countries.

Course Overview

This course introduces you to the application of economic models and empirical principles related to health and health care. It is targeted to a general audience who is interested in health insurance markets and health policy debates around the world. The course also includes other topics that can be found every day in the popular press: socioeconomic disparities in health, infectious disease, the obesity epidemic, and behavior health economics. ECON 375 is designed for students who are proficient in intermediate microeconomics and basic calculus.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ECON 201

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Apply economic theories to understanding the social determinants of health and the impact of health policy. (Capability 1, 4.3, 5.1 and 5.2)
  2. Understand and describe how health insurance works in real world. (Capability 2)
  3. Learn how to use economic models to understand behaviors of actors in the health care sector. (Capability 1 and 2)
  4. Master key economic concepts to analyze health behavior and health externality. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 5.1, 5.2 and 6)
  5. Design and write a short proposal in the field of health economics outcomes research. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Test 1 20% Individual Test
Test 2 20% Individual Test
Research Proposal 20% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
Test 1
Test 2
Research Proposal
As a general rule, you will need to score 50% to pass the course. Plussage does NOT apply. 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in. For each week of this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a one-hour tutorial/discussion, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities including labs/tutorials/studios/at home to complete components of the course.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials and these will be recorded.
Attendance on campus is not required for the test.
Where possible, study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Required Textbook:  
Health Economics, by Bhattacharya, Hyde, and Tu, 2013 Edition

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 13/07/2021 09:33 a.m.