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2020/2021

Public Policies II

Code: 42733 ECTS Credits: 10
Degree Type Year Semester
4310025 Economics and Business Administration OT 0 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Maria Antňnia Tarrazón Rodón
Email:
MariaAntonia.Tarrazon@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
english (eng)

Other comments on languages

This master is taught and evaluated entirely in English.

Teachers

Pau Olivella Cunill
Emilio Padilla Rosa

Prerequisites

Fundamentals of Economics and Business I

Fundamentals of Economics and Business II

Objectives and Contextualisation

Environmental Policies

The aims of the subject are: To review the economic analysis of main environmental problems as well as the different environmental policy tools. To understand the relationship between economic, social and ecological systems. To study the analytical tools of the economics of the environment. To analyse the main current debates in the field.

 

Health Economics and Policy Analysis

The course will provide a broad overview of the field of health economics. It is designed to illustrate how economists analyze topics related to the production of health and the delivery of health care. We will focus on how microeconomics tools can be used to understand health-related decisions made by individuals, providers, and health authorities. It will also study the application of economics to health care policy, with a focus on how economic analysis can assist in the development of market and non-market solutions to various health care problems.

 

 

Competences

  • Argue the case for and write a precise, clear and concise report of the problems presented in the English language.
  • Carry out empirical studies for impact assessments of different policies: Identify existing data sources or design a data collection, application of statistical and econometric techniques that are appropriate for programme and policy evaluation, formulation of empirical strategies and the appropriate interpretation of the results.
  • Carry out empirical studies.
  • Carry out oral presentations in the English language.
  • Contextualise economic problems through the use of formal models that enable quantitative analysis.
  • Demonstrate an understanding and carry out a critical analysis of economic studies of the economic policies of international organisations such as the OECD or the European Commission in the areas indicated.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of apply the main economic principles of efficiency and equity in the different areas mentioned above.
  • Identify specific cases among situations in which the markets are not efficient and those in which they are, as well as public intervention that leads to efficiency and that which does not.
  • Respect ethical, social and environmental values.
  • Understand academic research in the areas indicated.
  • Use different statistical programs to process data.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Argue the case for and write a precise, clear and concise report of the problems presented in the English language.
  2. Carry out empirical studies for impact assessments of different policies: Identify existing data sources or design a data collection, application of statistical and econometric techniques that are appropriate for programme and policy evaluation, formulation of empirical strategies and the appropriate interpretation of the results.
  3. Carry out empirical studies.
  4. Carry out oral presentations in the English language.
  5. Contextualise economic problems through the use of formal models that enable quantitative analysis.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding and carry out a critical analysis of economic studies of the economic policies of international organisations such as the OECD or the European Commission in the areas indicated.
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of apply the main economic principles of efficiency and equity in the different areas mentioned above.
  8. Identify specific cases among situations in which the markets are not efficient and those in which they are, as well as public intervention that leads to efficiency and that which does not.
  9. Respect ethical, social and environmental values.
  10. Understand academic research in the areas indicated.
  11. Use different statistical programs to process data.

Content

Environmental Policies: 

  1. The economic analysis of the environment and ecological economics. The relationship between the economy and the environment. The economy and environmental problems.
  2. Markets operation and environmental degradation. Justifications for public intervention with environmental policies. Microeconomic analysis of pollution.
  3. Different conceptions of sustainable development and their applications.
  4. Economic appraisal of environmental policies. Valuation problems.
  5. Economic analysis of the environment and future generations. Ethics and ecological economics.
  6. Environmental policy tools: environmental taxes.
  7. Environmental policy tools: tradable permits and others.
  8. The relationship between economic growth, environmental quality, and environmental policies.
  9. Global environmental problems: Economics and policy of climate change.

 

 

Health Economics and Policy Analysis

1.     What is Health Economics

1.1    Differential characteristics of health economics

1.2    The organization of a health care system

1.3    Structure of a health care system

2.     Demand for health and health care

2.1    Value of life and quality of life

2.2    Demand for health

3.     Health insurance

3.1    Basic concepts

3.2    Uncertainty and risk

3.3    Insurance

3.4    State-dependent utility and insurance

4.     Contracts and asymmetric information

4.1    Introduction: Hidden action vs. hidden type.

4.2    Hidden action (moral hazard).

4.2.1            The doctor-patient sphere

4.2.2            Risk adjustment in capitated systems

4.2.3            Moral hazard in insurance

4.3    Asymmetric information (adverse selection)

4.3.1            Adverse selection in Private Health Insurance

4.3.2            The interaction between NHS and voluntary PHI

4.3.3            Imperfect information and competition

5.     Yardstick competition and regulation

5.1.1            Relative performance evaluation

5.1.2            Introducing hospital choice

 

Methodology

The activities that will allow the students to learn the basic concepts included in this course are:

1. Theory lectures where the instructor will explain the main concepts.

The goal of this activity is to introduce the basic notions and guide the student learning

2. Problem Sets

In some subjects, a problem set which students will have to solve individually or in teams will be included in every unit. The goal of this activity is twofold. On one hand students will work with the theoretical concepts explained in the classroom, and on the other hand through this practice they will develop the necessary skills for problem solving.

3. Practice lectures

The aim of this activity is to comment on and solve any possible doubt that students mayhave had solving the problem assignment. This way they will be able to understand and correct any errors they may have had during this process.

4. Essay writing

In some subjects students will produce written essays on the topics proposed

5. Tutoring hours

Students will have some tutor hours in which the subject instructors will help them solve any doubts they may have.

 

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures with ITC support 37.5 1.5 10, 5, 7, 6, 8, 2, 3, 9, 11
Resolution of exercises 37.5 1.5 10, 5, 7, 6, 8, 2, 3, 9, 11
Type: Supervised      
Tutoring and monitoring work in progress. In-class presentations 62.5 2.5 1, 10, 5, 7, 6, 8, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11
Type: Autonomous      
Study, Reading, Exercise solving, Essays writing, 79.5 3.18 10, 5, 7, 6, 8, 2, 3, 9, 11

Assessment

  1. The module consists of a number of different subjects or parts taught by different professors. The final mark for the module will consist of the average of the marks of each subject within the module. 

    • The module is considered successfully passed if:

      • the mark for each subject within the module is higher than or equal to 3.0 (in a 0 to 10 scale), and

      • the final mark for that module is higher than or equal to 5.0 (in a 0 to 10 scale). 

        IMPORTANT: In order to pass each subject, students must attend at least 80% of the lectures (special cases, with appropriate justification, will be considered individually by the professors together with MEBA coordinators).

    • If the module is not successfully passed the MEBA coordinators will ask the student to re-take the exams for those subjects that, according to the coordinators and the professors opinions, may help the student to successfully pass the module. If the student passes the re-take exam he or she will obtain a mark of 5 for that subject, otherwise the previous grade will remain valid. The calendar for the re-retake exams will be announced along with the grades report 

  1. The mark -between 0 and 10- for each subject will be computed by each professor based on his or her ow criteria and on the student's performance. As a general rule, 35% of the mark will correspond to the assessment of the continuous work of the student during the course, and 65% will consist of acomprehensive final examination. The duration and nature of the final examination isdecided by each professor. 

  1. Final exams are compulsory. Re-take exams are only thought for those students having previously written a first exam and failed.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exercises and essays 35% 27 1.08 1, 10, 5, 7, 6, 8, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11
Topic Exam: Environmental Policies 21.66% 2 0.08 1, 10, 5, 6, 2, 9
Topic Exam: Health Economics and Health Policies 41.33% 4 0.16 1, 10, 5, 7, 8, 9

Bibliography

Environmental Policies: 

  • Bergh, J.C.J.M van den (ed.) (1999). Handbook of Environmental and Resource Economics. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.

  • Common, M., Stagl, S. (2005). Ecological Economics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

  • Jacobs, M. (1991) The Green Economy. Pluto Press, London.

  • Pearce, D.W., Turner R.K. (1990) Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. Harvester Wheatsheaf, London.

  • Stavins, R. N. (ed.) (2000) Economics of the Environment, Selected Readings, W. W. Northon and Company, New York and London.

Health Economics and Policy Analysis:

Main references

  • Barros, P.P. and X. Martinez-Giralt, 2012, Health Economics. An Industrial Organization Perspective, New York, Routledge.
  • McPake, B., Ch. Normand, and S. Smith, 2013, Health Economics. An international perspective, New York, Routledge.

 Complementary references

  • Anderson, G. and P. Markovich, 2010, Multinational Comparisons of Health Systems Data, 2008, The Commonwealth Fund.
  • Feldstein, P.J., 2002, Health Care Economics, Thomson, Delmar Learning, Clifton Park, NY.
  • Folland, S., A.C. Goodman, and M. Stano, 2004, The Economics of Health and Health Care, Upper Saddle River, NJ, Prentice Hall.
  • Glied, S. and P.C. Smith (eds.), 2011, The Oxford Handbook of Health Economics, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
  • Jacobs, P., 1997, The Economics of Health and Medical Care, Aspen Publishers, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
  • Jones, A.M. (ed.), 2006, Elgar Companion to Health Economics, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar.
  • Levitt, S.D. and S.J. Dubner, 2011, Superfreakonomics, Harper Collins, New York.
  • Macho-Stadler, I. and D. Perez-Castrillo, 2001, An Introduction to the Economics of Information, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
  • Morris, S., N. Devlin and D. Parkin, 2008, Economic Analysis in Health Care, Wiley,
  • Mossialos, E., G. Permanand, R. Baeten, and T. Hervey (eds.), 2010, Health Systems Governance in Europe. The Role of European Union Law and Policy, Cambridge University Press.
  • OECD, 2010, Health Policy Studies - Improving Value in Health Care: Measuring Quality, OECD Publishing.
  • OECD, 2010, Health Policy Studies - Value for Money in Health Spending, OECD Publishing.
  • OECD, 2011, Economic Policy Reforms 2011: Going for Growth, OECD Publishing, Chapter 6.
  • Phelps, C.E., 1992, Health Economics, Harper Collins, New York.
  • Puig-Junoy, Jaume, 2013, Paying for Free Healthcare. The role of prices in our healthcare decisions, (e-book), Barcelona, Los libros del lince.
  • Reisman, D., 2007, Health Care and Public Policy, Cheltemham, Edward Elgar.
  • Santerre, R.E., and S.P. Neun, 2004, Health Economics. Theories, Insights, and Industry Studies, Thomson, South-Western, Mason, Ohio.
  • Savedoff, W.D., 2011, Governance in the Health Sector. A Strategy for Measuring Determinants and Performance, Policy Research Working Paper 5655, The World Bank.
  • Wonderling, D., R. Gruen, and N. Black, 2005, Introduction to Health Economics, Open University Press, Maidenhead, Berkshire.
  • Zweifel, P., F. Breyer and M. Kifmann, 2009, Health Economics, Springer, Berlin.