Industrial Economics, Microeconomic Theory, Econometrics

The main objectives of this course are: 1) Learn the main characteristics of the most common health systems. 2) Learn the main economic problems and challenges associated with the main health systems and the economic models that were developed to explain them. 3) Discuss and offer solutions to these problems based on economic models and knowledge. 4) Study the main contributions in the literature related to these topics. By the end of the course, the student should have acquired the knowledge and skills proposed in the syllabus of the course, as well as the capacity to: 1) Analyse the problems of health systems using economic tools; 2) Find and select the economic literature on health economics themes. 3) Opportunity to improve his/her presentation skills.

Syllabus Health Economics 2014-2015 1) Introduction: Why is Health Economics Important? [Stiglitz, chp 12.] 2) The Health Production Function [Phelps chp. 3]. Individual and aggregate data. The Grossman Model [FGS chp. 5, McGuire chp. 7) 3) Evaluation Methods [Zweifel chp2.] 4) Health Systems: 4.1. General Features - [J. Hurst] 4.2. General Characteristics of the Health Care Markets [Arrow (1963) ] 4.3. Ethics, Efficacy, Effectiveness and Efficiency [FGS chp. 1, 4; Zweifel chp 1, 4, Ortún chp1; 3.1, 3.2, 3.3] 4.4. Equity [Rodríguez, Calonge and Reñe (1988) , Rodríguez and Calonge (1998)] 4.5. Regulation of Pharmacies: [García Fontes and Massimo Motta] 5) Health Insurance 5.1. Demand for Health Insurance [Phelps, chp 10; FGS pp 185-187] 5.2. Moral Hazard and Copayments [FGS pp 270-275; McGuire pp 189-193; Murillo 1992] 5.3 Adverse Selection: the Rothschild and Stiglitz Model [FGS 151-162 and 289-292; Stiglitz (1993) - Ariel Economía pp 175-180; Rothschild and Stiglitz (1976)- not a mandatory reading] 6) Topic to be announced

Such as other courses in Grado, there are: 1) Theory classes 2) Practical classes where the number of students is typically smaller. In Practical classes, students are suppose to solve exercises and if time allows present a topic.