Students

ECON3018 – Health Economics

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kompal Sinha
kompal.sinha@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ECON2003 or ECON203
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit examines the economics behind the growing health sector in Australia and other advanced economies. It helps students to understand issues such as the unique characteristics of the health care market, pricing by doctors and hospitals, and the mix of public and private funding and insurance. Topics can 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), health care systems globally and in Australia, equity and ethics in health resource allocation, and the health of Australia’s indigenous population.

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 and how different solutions affect different stakeholders.
  • ULO3: Analyse the unusual features of markets for health care compared with markets for other goods and services.
  • ULO4: Effectively communicate, individually and as a group, knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

General Assessment Information

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 11.55pm. 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
Formal and observed learning: Test 30% No Week 7 (11 April 2025)
Professional practice: White paper 40% No Week 12 (30 May 2025)
Formal and observed learning: Exam 30% No University exam period

Formal and observed learning: Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 7 (11 April 2025)
Weighting: 30%

 

A mid-session test will be held during Week 7 or Week 8. The material covered in weeks prior 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 compared with markets for other goods and services.

Professional practice: White paper

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 12 (30 May 2025)
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will work in groups to prepare a white paper for policy makers on a topic assigned to them in Week 3

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and analyse the role of health economics in understanding health systems and how different solutions affect different stakeholders.
  • Effectively communicate, individually and as a group, knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Formal and observed learning: Exam

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

 

The purpose of this assessment is for students to demonstrate the expertise they have gained in Health Economics.   You will participate in a 2-hour exam held during the University Examination period. Important information about the exam will be made available on the unit iLearn page. You should also review the MQ Exams website for general tips.   Deliverable: Formal exam Individual assessment

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

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

References

  • Folland, S., Goodman, A.C. and Stano, M., 2016. The economics of health and health care (Vol. 6). New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
  • Drummond, M., B. O’Brien, G. Stoddart & G. Torrance (1997), “Basic types of economic evaluation”,  in Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes, Oxford University Press.

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, 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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
17/02/2025 Updated date for assessment submission.

Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook