Program Overview
HEALTH ECONOMICS
Course Overview
Health Economics provides an advanced understanding of the economic principles and analytical tools applied to healthcare systems, policies, and markets. Through theoretical lectures, case studies, and empirical exercises, students learn to evaluate the allocation of healthcare resources, financing mechanisms, and the impact of policy interventions on health outcomes.
Aims and Content
Learning Outcomes
The course aims at providing students with basic economic concepts to understand the healthcare market and the role played by asymmetric information in affecting market equilibrium. Students will learn how to apply economic analysis to evaluate public and private policies.
Aims and Learning Outcomes
The course aims to:
- Equip students with the ability to apply economic analysis to health and healthcare
- Develop competence in economic evaluation methods
- Foster critical assessment of health financing systems and policy reforms
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Apply demand and supply analysis to the healthcare market
- Evaluate the efficiency and equity implications of different health financing models
- Conduct economic evaluation of health interventions
- Critically appraise the design and impact of major health policy interventions
Prerequisites
There are no specific requirements for this course.
Teaching Methods
The course will be taught through lectures and exercises.
Syllabus/Content
- Introduction to Economics and Health Economics
- Characteristics of Health as an Economic Good
- Health Financing Systems and Recent Reforms
- Health Insurance: Risk, Uncertainty, and Information Asymmetry
- Economic Evaluation Methods
Recommended Reading/Bibliography
The course is structured around teacher's handouts and original papers, which will be made available.
Teachers and Exam Board
Teacher
MARCELLO MONTEFIORI
Exam Board
- MARCELLO MONTEFIORI (President)
- BARBARA CAVALLETTI
- LUCIA LEPORATTI (President Substitute)
Lessons
Lessons Start
The timetable for this course is available.
Exams
Exam Description
The exam will consist of multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions, and exercises.
Assessment Methods
- Continuous assessment: Two written mid-term assessments
- Final examination (alternative): A single written exam may be taken instead of the intermediate tests
Exam Schedule
- 13/01/2026, 10:00, GENOVA
- 03/02/2026, 10:00, GENOVA
- 24/03/2026, 10:00, GENOVA
- 05/06/2026, 10:00, GENOVA
- 22/06/2026, 10:00, GENOVA
- 08/07/2026, 10:00, GENOVA
- 23/07/2026, 10:00, GENOVA
- 08/09/2026, 10:00, GENOVA
Further Information
- Lecture Delivery Mode: Lectures will be delivered in person and recorded through Microsoft Teams.
- Attendance: Participation in classes is optional.
- Language of assessment: Students may choose to take their tests in either English or Italian.