Different countries have different health care systems, due to historical developments and political and societal structures. In this course, we examine various conceptual frameworks to describe and understand the economic aspects of different health care systems that are relevant for health policy. Health care systems may largely differ from each other in terms of their delivery-, financing- and regulation-structures. This course will deal with the theory of supply and demand in health care, and the crucial role of information (asymmetry), technology and social health insurance in health care. Policy issues will be analysed such as the private/public mix in finance and provision, solidarity in health care, and the role of voluntary supplementary health insurance. The course will focus on the differences between the ‘classical' Bismarck-, Beveridge- and Semashko-systems in Europe and on the theory and practice of managed competition and managed care.

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Describe peculiarities of health service markets

2. Understand what determines demand for health services

3. Understand information asymmetry and imperfection in health service markets

4. Understand the production of health services in economic terms, and have some appreciation of economic issues relating to hospitals

5. Be able to analyse health insurance arrangements, and understand the major types of arrangements.

50% Essay and 50% Classwork

3 contact hours per week for 13 weeks.

Department consent required

By the end of the course students should have a good understanding of the economic aspects of health care systems relevant for health policy and have a good knowledge of the relevant literature.