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Unit outline_

ECON6029: Health Economics and Policy Evaluation

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

In this unit, students will engage in discussing major health care issues and applying econometric tools to assess the (cost)-effectiveness of health care policy reforms. The following topics are likely to be covered: (1) international health care systems and finance, (2) determinants of the demand and supply of health care and behaviours, (3) inequalities in health and access to care, and (4) current policy reforms such as the introduction of provider incentives and co-payments. Each topic will be accompanied by an empirical application and replication assignment.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Economics
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
(ECON5001 or ECON5040 or ECON6701) and (ECMT5001 or ECMT6702 or QBUS5001)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Stefanie Schurer, stefanie.schurer@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Mini-Project
n/a
20% STUVAC
Due date: 07 Nov 2022 at 17:00
1000 words max
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO6 LO7
Assignment Essay 1
n/a
10% Week 06
Due date: 05 Sep 2022 at 17:00
500 words max
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO7
In-semester test (Open book) Type C in-semester exam Mid-semester test
n/a
40% Week 08
Due date: 19 Sep 2022 at 18:00
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO1
Assignment Essay 2
n/a
10% Week 11
Due date: 17 Oct 2022 at 17:00
500 words max
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO7
Presentation Oral presentation 1
n/a
10% Week 13
Due date: 31 Oct 2022 at 21:00
10min max + 1p cheat sheet
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation Oral presentation 2
n/a
10% Week 13
Due date: 31 Oct 2022 at 21:00
10min max + 1p cheat sheet
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Type C in-semester exam = Type C in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Mid-semester examination: The mid-semester examination will be two hours in length and will cover the core material. The exam will be held in the regular lecture slot.
  • Oral presentations: In the oral presentations, you will be required to summarise the content of a research study or a country case study.
  • Essays: In the essays, you will be required to discuss the pros and cons of a topical health policy intervention, using the economic theoretical framework you learnt in class.
  • Mini-Project: In the project, you will be required to conduct a small research study. The assignment requires you to apply simple statistical techniques to a data set provided by the lecturer or that you need to download from the worldwide web. The length of the assignment should be no longer than two pages.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The Assessment Procedures 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction & Production of Health 1 Classic Economic Theory Lecture (2 hr) LO2
No tutorial - just meet and greet Tutorial (1 hr) LO7
Week 02 Production of Health 2: Socioeconomic gradients in health + public policy Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Tutorial 2: oral presentations (OP) and methods discussion Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 03 Production of Health 3, behavioral economics Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Tutorial 3: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 04 Health Care Supply: Physicians Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Tutorial 4: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 05 Health care supply: hospitals and competition Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Tutorial 5: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 06 Health Insurance: adverse selection Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Tutorial 6: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 07 Health Insurance: moral hazards Lecture (2 hr) LO2
Tutorial 7: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 08 In-semester test (open book) 18:00 19 Sep 2022 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
No Tutorial Tutorial (2 hr) LO2
Week 09 Tutorial 8: Project discussion: Are lock downs the right public health policy to flatten the Covid19 curve? Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 10 Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Tutorial 9: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 11 Health policy 1: challenges & health care systems (Beveridge, NHS and Medicare) Lecture (2 hr) LO7
Tutorial 10: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 12 Health policy 2: Health care systems (Bismarck + American) Lecture (2 hr) LO7
Tutorial 11: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO4
Week 13 Health policy 3: aging & sustainability of health care Lecture (2 hr) LO7
Tutorial 12: oral presentations Tutorial (1 hr) LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: All lectures will be recorded and will be made available to students on the LMS.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Required reading: Jay Bhattacharya, Timothy Hyde, and Peter Tu (2014). Health Economics. Palgrave MacMillan. Short: BHT

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. apply a range of economic and econometric models to health policy research questions
  • LO2. study key economic models to explain individual health behaviours, and the behaviour of firms (physicians, hospitals & pharma)
  • LO3. demonstrate an understanding of standard econometric techniques to estimate causal effects of policy interventions
  • LO4. discuss relevant material in short, oral presentations to a diverse audience
  • LO5. write concise, short essays
  • LO6. conduct a small research project
  • LO7. learn about and assess public health policies & systems

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         
LO6         
LO7         

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This UoS has been continuously modified in response to student feedback since its inception in 2015.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.