Prof Alistair Mcguire

This course is available on the Executive MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes.

The course builds on HP4A4E Health Economics and aims to provide students with an overview of the professional health economics literature, offering a broad understanding of economists’ approaches to analysing healthcare. While the topics covered are similar to those in HP4A4E, they are explored in much greater depth and detail, with increased emphasis on why economics uses mathematics and statistics to address key issues (however, no formal proofs are provided—the aim is to demonstrate how these tools are used to interpret economic problems).

The specific topics covered include international comparisons of healthcare expenditure, health insurance, contract theory applied to the healthcare sector (including principal–agent theory and incentive payment mechanisms), equity in healthcare, and individual health behaviours. In covering this material, students will also gain an understanding of how econometric analysis is applied to healthcare data.

This course will be delivered as a combination lectures, workshops and student presentations, totalling a minimum of 19 hours.

Essay (1500 words).

Culyer, A.J., and Newhouse, J.P., (eds.), 2001, Handbook of Health Economics Volumes 1A &1B, (North-Holland, Amsterdam); Zweifel, P. and Breyer, F., 1997, Health Economics, (OUP, Oxford).

Essay (100%, 3000 words).