HSH717 - Health Economics 1

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Trimester 3: Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Lisa Gold
Trimester 3: Lisa Gold
Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: Nil
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

Combination of independent and interactive scheduled on-campus activities equivalent to two hours per week, including 10-11 scheduled seminars.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment:

Combination of independent and interactive scheduled online activities equivalent to two hours per week, including 10-11 scheduled seminars.

Content

The unit introduces students to the discipline of health economics and assumes no prior knowledge. The unit will cover the following topics, with a particular focus on current policy developments.

  1. Dimensions of Health Economics: The scope of health economics; why is health economics relevant; objectives in health care; choice in health care; basic concepts and definitions.
  2. Microeconomic Tools for Health Economics Part 1 - The Competitive Market: concepts behind the demand curve; concepts behind the supply curve; markets and efficiency; conditions for competitive markets.
  3. Microeconomic Tools for Health Economics Part 2 - Market Failure: the role of government and preventing government failure; common market failures in health care; health care insurance markets.
  4. The Australian Health Care System from an Economic Perspective: Structure and funding; role of providers, consumers and funders; viewpoints on the Australian health care system; international comparisons.
ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1 Define and explain basic economic concepts, especially efficiency, opportunity cost, utility and marginal costs and benefits

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO3: Digital literacy

ULO2

Compare and contrast health care markets and markets for other goods and services

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO7: Teamwork
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO3

Explain the unique characteristics of healthcare which make the application of standard economic theory challenging

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO4

Analyse the implications of different approaches to paying for (funding) and providing health services.

GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management

ULO5

Discuss the role of government in healthcare from an economic perspective

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy
GLO7: Teamwork
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO6

Evaluate important healthcare challenges and debates from an economic perspective

GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management
GLO8: Global citizenship

Assessment

Assessment description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1: In-trimester exercises (including seminar participation) Weekly exercises 30%
  • Weekly
Assessment 2: Essay 2000 words 40%
  • Week 8
Assessment 3: End-of-Unit Assessment 90 minutes 30%
  • End-of-unit assessment period

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: HSH717 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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