Health Economics

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methodologies include: the contextualization of themes using the presentation of relevant national and international data and indicators; the explanation of concepts and models; discussion of texts and specific health policy measures.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should have learned about the main topics of discussion concerning the health sector, as well as understand the specificities of this sector and how they can influence individuals’ choices and health policies. The student should also be able to use basic principles and tools typical of economic analysis to critically evaluate aspects and events in the health sector as well as be able to critically discuss scientific articles published in the related literature.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

- Relevance of the health sector in the economy (introductory part of the course).

- Topics of Microeconomics

- Specificities of the health sector and health economics (such as uncertainty, information asymmetry, among others).

- Models of demand for health and health care (including the Grossman’s Model).

- Information asymmetry and the individuals’ behaviour (analysis of moral hazard and other issues raised by information asymmetry such as adverse selection and agency relationship).

- Health insurance (with more detail).

- Production and supply of health care (definition of production of health care and concepts of efficiency).

- Equity in utilization and financing of health care (concepts and empirical methods).

Head Lecturer(s)

Carlota Maria Miranda Quintal

Assessment Methods

Assessment
In-class oral presentation: 25.0%
Synthesis work: 25.0%
Frequency: 50.0%

Bibliography

- Barros PP. Economia da saúde: conceitos e comportamentos. 4ª edição, reimpressão Coimbra: Edições Almedina, 2023.

- Folland S, Goodman AC, Stano M., Danagoulian S. The economics of health and health care. 9th ed.. New York: Routledge, 2024.

- Krugman P, Wells R. Economics. 6th ed. New York: Worth Publishers, 2021.

- McPake B., Normand C., Smith S., Nolan A. Health economics – An International Perspective. 4th ed. New York: Routledge, 2020.

- Artigos científicos e relatórios indicados no final de cada tópico.