Students

ECON3018 – Health Economics

2023 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kompal Sinha
kompal.sinha@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including ((ECON110 or ECON111 or ECON1020) and 20cp at 2000 level or above)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Australia spends around 10% of its GDP on health - a figure not uncommon among most developed countries. With people living longer, the health care industry is projected to be one of the largest employers, world wide. These facts make an understanding of the economics of health care important for future economists. Questions explored include: What makes health a unique economic good? Why does health need government intervention? Why do people buy health insurance? Why do doctors charge richer patients more than poorer patients? What do hospitals maximise: profits; patients treated or quality of service? Adopting a microeconomic approach, students are introduced to concepts and techniques relevant to the understanding of health economics and to answering these questions. Topics may include: the economics of health care (demand and supply, market imperfections including market failure and resulting resource allocation); the behaviour of agents (hospitals, physicians and private health insurers) in health care; the role of government and the need for government intervention; equity and ethics in health care resource allocation; the Australian health care system; health and economic development; 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: Apply theoretical microeconomics to health economics.
  • ULO2: Identify and analyse the role of health economics in understanding health systems.
  • ULO3: Analyse the unusual features of markets for health care as compared to markets for other goods.
  • ULO4: Effectively communicate knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments) 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Mid session test 15% No Week 7
Student presentations 15% No Week 8 and Week 9
Research report 40% No Week 13
Final examination 30% No University exam period

Mid session test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 15%

 

A short multiple choice test will be held during Week 7. The material covered in week 1 to 6 will be tested.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply theoretical microeconomics to health economics.
  • Analyse the unusual features of markets for health care as compared to markets for other goods.

Student presentations

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 8 and Week 9
Weighting: 15%

 

Each student is required to participate as a presenter. The student roster for these presentations will be prepared in Week 3.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Effectively communicate knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Research report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%

 

A research report on suggested topic.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and analyse the role of health economics in understanding health systems.
  • Effectively communicate knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Final examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: University exam period
Weighting: 30%

 

A two-hour examination will be held during the University Examination Period, and will cover all aspects of the unit material.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply theoretical microeconomics to health economics.
  • Analyse the unusual features of markets for health care as compared to markets for other goods.

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

See iLearn for details

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2023.04 of the Handbook