Students

ECON7016 – Health Economics and Policy

2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kompal Sinha
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is aimed at students interested in pursuing careers in the field of health economics, health policy or health technology assessment, or students interested in understanding the economics of health and health policy. The unit will introduce students to economic tools and their application relevant to the understanding of the economics of health and health care. Adopting a microeconomic approach, the unit will cover economic and statistical concepts and techniques relevant to the understanding of health economics.Topics covered will include supply and demand for health, information and insurance markets, key players in the health care sector, social insurance, the economics of health innovation (pharmaceuticals, technology and health technology assessment), health policy, health systems around the world, the economics and policy of bads (smoking, alcohol), public health economics, behavioural health economics, health and economic development and the case of Aboriginal health.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • ULO2: Evaluate health as a unique economic good and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • ULO3: Apply theoretical knowledge of applied microeconomics to health economics.
  • ULO4: Critically analyse the role of health economics in the design of health policy across the world.
  • ULO5: Effectively communicate theories and knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Presentation and discussion 15% No Week 10
Research report 15% No Week 12
Health policy op-ed piece 30% No Week 13
Final examination 40% No University examination period

Presentation and discussion

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 15%

Each student is assigned a task of preparing and presenting a literature review on the pre-assigned topic. The suggested topics will be posted on iLearn in Week 1. Each student is required to prepare and present a power point aided presentation in Week 10.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • Evaluate health as a unique economic good and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • Critically analyse the role of health economics in the design of health policy across the world.
  • Effectively communicate theories and knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Research report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 15%

Students are required to prepare a 3500-word research report on the assigned topic. In addition students may formulate their own topic for the essay which will need to be negotiated will the lecturer. This assessment comprises of two parts: a report on current policy topic and a summary of student social media engagement.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • Evaluate health as a unique economic good and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge of applied microeconomics to health economics.
  • Effectively communicate theories and knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Health policy op-ed piece

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%

Students will be assigned a health policy question at the beginning of session (Week 2). Each student will be required to work on this health policy topic throughout the session and submit an opinion piece (via Turnitin) in Week 13.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • Evaluate health as a unique economic good and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge of applied microeconomics to health economics.
  • Critically analyse the role of health economics in the design of health policy across the world.
  • Effectively communicate theories and knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Final examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: University examination period
Weighting: 40%

A two hour final exam will be held during the University exam period. The exam will cover all materials and topics covered during the unit. The exam format will be discussed in-class during Week 13.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • Evaluate health as a unique economic good and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge of applied microeconomics to health economics.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Delivery:

There will be a two hour online lecture (pre-recorded) followed by a one-hour tutorial or guest lecture (synchronous workshop/seminar). Details to be provided on iLearn at the start of Session. 

Required text: Bhattacharya, J., Hyde, T., & Tu, P. (2013). Health economics. Macmillan International Higher Education. Folland, S., A. Goodman and M. Stano, The Economics of Health and Health Care, (8th Ed), Pearson.

Recommended text: Fuchs, V. R. (2018). Health Economics and Policy: Selected Writings by Victor Fuchs. Hernán MA and Robins JM (2020). Causal Inference: What If. Boca Raton: Chapman & Hall/ CRC. These textbooks are available for purchase at Co-op Bookshop. A small number are available on reserve in the library. Earlier editions are similar but page references may change. Teaching and learning resources

Course material is available on the iLearn unit page. • Students will be required to read journal articles every week. • The list of these articles will be posted on iLearn unit page. • Students will need a PC/Tablet. • Students will use MS-Office for this unit. • Students will need to be familiar with platforms for online communications such as Zoom, Microsoft Team.

Unit Schedule

Check unit iLearn space for weekly schedule for this unit.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook