Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor and Lecturer
Kompal Sinha
Contact via 98506069
Room 420, Building E4A, Eastern Road
Wed 3-4pm
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
ECON200 or ECON203
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
One of the largest areas of government spending in most developed countries is health, Australia spends around 10% of GDP on health. With people living longer and societies getting greyer, the health care industry is projected to be one of the largest employers by 2020. These statistics make the study and understanding of the economics of health care important for future economists.
Adopting a microeconomic approach, students are introduced to concepts and techniques relevant to the understanding of health economics. The unit will cover 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.
The unit will also help to answer questions such as: 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?
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Mid session test
A short multiple choice test will be held during the last hour of lecture (3 - 4pm) in week 7. The material covered in the test will be derived from lectures 1 to 5.
In case of unforeseen circumstances, students are required to submit request for special consideration for an optional test (see the procedure and policy section of this unit guide). If that request is accepted by the university the students will be required to write a supplementary test.
Student presentation
Each student is required to participate as a presenter and as a discussant. The student roster for presenters and discussants will be prepared in Week 3.
Final examination
A final exam during Session 1 exam period. Students will be assessed on materials covered from Week 7 onwards.
There will be a supplementary exam for this assessment. In case of unforeseen circumstances, students are required to submit request for special consideration for an optional exam (see the procedure and policy section of this unit guide). If that request is accepted by the university the students will be required to write a supplementary exam.
Research Report
The students are required to work on a research topic selected by the convenor. The details of the topic and assessment criteria will be discussed during lecture and iLearn in Week 3. A PDF document of the research report has to be submitted via Turnitin no later than Friday, 18th May 11:59pm. The Turnitin link will become active on Monday 14th May. Students are encouraged to avoid submitting their report at the last hour. No email submissions will be accepted. No extensions will be granted. Late Research Reports will be accepted up to 72 hours after the submission deadline. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example 25 hours late will involve a 20% penalty).
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Mid session test | 15% | No | Wk 7 (9th April 2018, 3-4pm) |
Student presentation | 15% | No | From Week 3 |
Research report | 40% | No | Wk 10, 18 May 2018, 11:59pm |
Final examination | 30% | No | Session1 Exam period |
Due: Wk 7 (9th April 2018, 3-4pm)
Weighting: 15%
A short multiple choice test will be held during the last hour in week 7. The material covered in the test will be derived from lectures 1 to 5.
Under unforeseen circumstances students are advised to refer to the Special Consideration Policy. This policy establishes the principles that support students seeking to notify the University when they experience short-term, unexpected, serious and unavoidable circumstances, which affect their performance in assessment. For further information, please refer to the Policy and Procedures section of this Unit Guide.
Due: From Week 3
Weighting: 15%
For details on in class presentation check iLearn in Week 2.
Due: Wk 10, 18 May 2018, 11:59pm
Weighting: 40%
A research report on suggested topic.
Due: Session1 Exam period
Weighting: 30%
A two hour exam held during the Macquarie University final exam period.
Required text:
Folland, S., A. Goodman and M. Stano, (2016) The Economics of Health and Health Care, (7th Ed), Pearson.
The text, also referred to as FGS in this unit, is 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.
Recommended reading:
Henderson, J. W. (2012). Health economics and policy (with economic applications). Cengage Learning.
Phelps, C. E. (2016). Health economics. Routledge.
Duckett, S., & Willcox, S. (2015). The Australian health care system (No. Ed. 5). Oxford University Press.
Palmer, G. R., & Short, S. D. (2000). Health care and public policy: an Australian analysis. Macmillan Education AU.
Jones, A. M. (Ed.). (2012). The Elgar companion to health economics. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Culyer, A. J., & Newhouse, J. P. (Eds.). (2000). Handbook of health economics. Elsevier.
Teaching and learning resources
WEEK |
LECTURE TOPIC |
Workshop and presentation |
Week 1.
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Introduction |
No workshop or presentation |
Week 2.
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Economic evaluation in health care |
Workshop 1 and no presentation |
Week 3.
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Production of health and demand |
Workshop 2 and presentation |
Week 4.
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Demand for health and medical care |
Workshop 3 and presentation |
Week 5.
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Population health and economics of bads |
Workshop 4 and presentation |
Week 6.
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Easter Monday - Public holiday |
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Week 7.
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The market for health insurance |
Workshop 5 (Test) and no presentation |
Mid-semester break | ||
Week 8.
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Managed care |
Workshop 6 and presentation |
Week 9.
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Hospital service market |
Workshop 7 and presentation |
Week 10.
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Physician industry |
Workshop 8 and presentation |
Week 11.
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The pharmaceutical industry |
Workshop 9 and presentation |
Week 12.
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Health policy and regulation |
Workshop 10 and presentation |
Week 13.
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Health care systems around the world |
Workshop 11 and presentation |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results shown in iLearn, 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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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