HP426      Half Unit
Applied Health Econometrics

This information is for the 2018/19 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Elisabetta De Cao OLD 1.11

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in International Health Policy (Health Economics). This course is available on the MSc in International Health Policy. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

Students must have completed Health Economics (HP420).

Alternatively, students should have completed another foundation course in microeconomics.  If this was completed outside of the LSE at an undergraduate level, please contact Dr. De Cao for further advice.

Course content

Most research questions, in health economics require students to apply econometric techniques. This course will introduce these techniques and students exiting the course can expect to have acquired a competency in econometrics as it is applied to health economics. The seminars- which are lab based- will allow students to apply these methods to practical problems using Stata and interpret the results.

This content of this course may be useful to those considering the half unit HP423 Advanced Health Economics. 

Teaching

11 hours of lectures and 18 hours of seminars in the MT.

All lectures and seminars will be taught by Dr. Elisabetta De Cao. The lectures will be 2-hour long in week 1, and then 1-hour long in weeks 2-5 and weeks 7-11. The seminars will be weekly from week 2 through 11 (with the exception of week 1 where you will have no seminar). 

Formative coursework

One written assignment will be given at the end of week 4 to be submitted by the end of week 5. This work will be read and feedback provided.

Indicative reading

• Joshua David Angrist, Jorn-Steffen Pischke (2015) Mastering 'Metrics: The Path from Cause to Effect. (most relevant to the course)

• Jeffrey M. Wooldridge, (2009) Introductory econometrics: a modern approach, 4th edition.

• Jones, A.M., Rice, N., Bago d’Uva, T. and Balia S. (2013) Applied Health Economics, London: Routledge.

• Case A. and Paxson C. (2008) Stature and Status: Height, Ability, and Labor Market Outcomes. Journal of Political Economy, vol. 116, no. 3, 499-532.

• Currie, J., Ray, S. H., & Neidell, M. (2011). Quasi-experimental studies suggest that lowering air pollution levels benefits infants’ and children’s health. Health Affairs, 30(12), 2391-2399.

• Almond, D., & Currie, J. (2011). Killing me softly: The fetal origins hypothesis. Journal of economic perspectives, 25(3), 153-72.

• Almond D. (2007) Is the 1918 Influenza Pandemic Over? Long-Term Effects of In Utero Influenza Exposure in the Post-1940 U.S. Population. Journal of Political Economy, 2006, vol. 114, no. 4, 672-712.

Assessment

Coursework (50%, 2000 words) in the MT.
Essay (50%, 2500 words) in the LT.

The coursework will be written assignment using STATA ; it will be given at the end of week 9 to be submitted by the end of week 11.

The essay will have to be submitted at the beginning of LT.

Student performance results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 31.4
Merit 48
Pass 10.8
Fail 9.8

Key facts

Department: Health Policy

Total students 2017/18: 36

Average class size 2017/18: 18

Controlled access 2017/18: Yes

Lecture capture used 2017/18: Yes (LT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course survey results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 86%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2

Materials (Q2.3)

2

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.7

Integration (Q2.6)

1.8

Contact (Q2.7)

1.5

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.7

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

87%

Maybe

13%

No

0%