COOL CLASSES: “Health Economics”

This course explores the important issues of health and healthcare from an economic perspective, including the roles and perspectives of individuals, providers, insurers, and governments, and how their decisions are shaped by different economic, political, and ethical motivations.

Class name: “Health Economics”

Taught by: Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics Julie Becher

 

Here’s what Becher had to say about her class:

“Health Economics” is intended to introduce students to using economic tools to examine the organization, delivery, and quality of healthcare in the United States. Issues relevant to both consumers and producers of healthcare and the role of government in the healthcare system are examined.  More specifically, topics include the demand for health; the derived demand for medical care; the demand for insurance; and the role of managed-care organizations, physicians, hospitals and the government in determining the quantity and quality of medical care services; healthcare systems in other countries; and healthcare reform in the United States.

Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to understand economic behavior on the demand (i.e., patients) and supply (i.e., providers, etc.) sides in the healthcare market, use microeconomic tools and concepts to examine healthcare policy issues, and understand major policy issues facing the United States and the challenges involved with achieving reform.

I enjoy teaching this course because it is rich in interesting applications of microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts.  The field of health economics is constantly evolving and the concepts are relevant to students both now and in their future.

 

See what other courses the Department of Economics is offering this semester.

Cool Classes is a series that highlights interesting, unusual, and unique courses that enrich the Haverford experience.

Photo credit: NIHClinicalCenter/Flickr