This is a PhD-level course in health economics. The aim is to introduce students to central research areas in the field and to equip them with the tools to critically engage with current debates. We will combine a classical overview of foundational models (demand for health and insurance, health care supply) with frontier topics that are particularly active in contemporary research (such as, early origins of health, labor markets and health, mental health and climate). The course emphasizes both theory and empirics, with a focus on understanding causal inference in health economics and on developing research ideas that can contribute to the literature.

• Understand the key theoretical frameworks and empirical approaches used in health eco- nomics.
• Critically read, interpret, and evaluate research articles in the field, identifying strengths and limitations in design and contribution.
• Present and discuss applied research papers, practicing skills that are essential for academic seminars and conferences.
• Formulate interesting and feasible research questions, and sketch realistic empirical strate- gies to address them.
• Relate academic research in health economics to ongoing public policy debates.

Mandatory attendance

The course consists of a total of 10 meetings: 8 sessions of 120 minutes and 2 sessions of 180 minutes. Prior to each meeting, students are expected to carefully complete all assigned readings for that section from the reading list. Core readings are marked with ̊ and should be read in full. Additional references are recommended for students who wish to deepen their understanding or prepare for research in that area.

We distinguish three different types of meetings, each with a specific role in the learning process:

• Lecture (L): In these sessions I will introduce the respective topic, providing an overview of theoretical concepts, empirical approaches, and key debates. While we will cover the underlying economic models, the emphasis will be on intuition, mechanisms, and applica- tions rather than on technical derivations. Lectures are meant to give all participants a common analytical toolkit and prepare the ground for more advanced discussions.

• Pitch Presentations (P1): In these sessions, students will develop and present original research ideas. Each pitch should outline a precise and interesting research question, discuss why it matters, and sketch a plausible empirical strategy under the (somewhat idealized) assumption of access to high-quality data. Pitches are expected to last about 15 minutes, followed by feedback and discussion. The aim is to practice framing researchable questions and connecting them to methods and data.

• Paper Presentations (P2): These sessions focus on recent applied research from the reading list. Each student (or group, depending on enrollment) will choose one paper marked with ¶ and prepare a 25-minute presentation. The presentation should not only summarize the paper, but also critically assess its research design, contribution, and limitations. Presentations will be followed by a short group discussion. This format helps

students learn how to read, evaluate, and

present research in health economics.

Active participation is essential. Students are expected to complete the assigned readings in advance of each meeting and to attend all sessions (a maximum of two absences is permitted). Grades will be based on three components:

- Pitch presentation (P1): 40%
- Paper presentation (P2): 30%
- Referee report (written assignment): 30%

Each student must complete all three components in order to pass the course. The final grade is determined by the weighted average across components. The grading scale is as follows:

- Unsatisfactory: x < 60%
- Sufficient: 60% ≤ x < 70%
- Satisfactory: 70% ≤ x < 80%
- Good: 80% ≤ x < 90%
- Excellent: 90% ≤ x ≤ 100%

Please log in with your WU account to use all functionalities of read!t. For off-campus access to our licensed electronic resources, remember to activate your VPN connection connection. In case you encounter any technical problems or have questions regarding read!t, please feel free to contact the library at readinglists@wu.ac.at.

Reading list  (incomplete!)

Introdcution
* Chapter 11 of Gruber, J. (2022). Public Finance and Public Policy. Worth Publishers, New York, NY
* Chapters 1 of Bhattacharya, J., Hyde, T., and Tu, P. (2014). Health Economics. Palgrave Macmiliian, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Health Demand
* Chapter 2 of Bhattacharya, J., Hyde, T., and Tu, P. (2014). Health Economics. Palgrave Macmiliian, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire

¶ Abaluck, J., Caceres-Bravo, M., Hull, P., and Starc, A. (2021). Mortality Effects and Choice Across Private Health Insurance Plans. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 136(3):1557–1610.
➟ Methods: IV; treatment: mortality; outcome: insurance plan choice; comment: this paper is a bit tricky!
¶ Alsan, M. and Wanamaker, M. (2017). Tuskegee and the Health of Black Men. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 133(1):407–455.
➟ Methods: DiD; treatment: mistreatment by the medical profession; outcome: demand for health care and health.
¶ Cameron, L., Seager, J., and Shah, M. (2020). Crimes Against Morality: Unintended Consequences of Criminalizing Sex Work. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 136(1):427–469.
➟ Methods: DiD; treatment: criminalizing sex work; outcome: sexually transmitted infections.
¶ Goldin, J., Lurie, I. Z., and McCubbin, J. (2020). Health Insurance and Mortality: Experimental Evidence from Taxpayer Outreach. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 136(1):1–49.
➟ Methods: RCT/IV; treatment: information treatment; outcome: health insurance enrollment.
¶ Kowalski, A. E. (2022). Behaviour within a Clinical Trial and Implications for Mammography Guidelines. Review of Economic Studies, 90(1):432–462.
➟ Methods: RCT/IV; treatment: mammography; outcome: breast cancer & all-cause mortality; comment: this paper is a bit tricky!
¶ Martinez-Bravo, M. and Stegmann, A. (2021). In Vaccines We Trust? The Effects of the CIA’s Vaccine Ruse on Immunization in Pakistan. Journal of the European Economic Association, 20(1):150–186.
➟ Methods: DiD; treatment: CIA intervention; outcome: vaccination rates.

Demand for Health Insurance
Health-care supply
* Chapter 5 of Bhattacharya, J., Hyde, T., and Tu, P. (2014). Health Economics. Palgrave Macmiliian, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire

¶ Aggeborn, L. and ¨Ohman, M. (2021). The Effects of Fluoride in Drinking Water. Journal of Political Economy, 129(2):465–491.
➟ Methods: FE; treatment: fluoridation of drinking water; outcome: dental health, cognitive ability, & labor income.
¶ Alexander, D. and Schwandt, H. (2022). The Impact of Car Pollution on Infant and Child Health: Evidence from Emissions Cheating. The Review of Economic Studies, 89(6):2872–2910.
➟ Methods: DiD; treatment: car pollution; outcome: infant & child health.
¶ Alpert, A., Evans, W. N., Lieber, E. M. J., and Powell, D. (2021). Origins of the Opioid Crisis and its Enduring Impacts. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 137(2):1139–1179.
➟ Methods: DiD; treatment: marketing of OxyContin; outcome: overdose deaths.
¶ Anderson, D. M., Brown, R., Charles, K. K., and Rees, D. I. (2020). Occupational Licensing and Maternal Health: Evidence from Early Midwifery Laws. Journal of Political Economy, 128(11):4337–4383.
➟ Methods: DiD; treatment: midwifery laws; outcome: infant & maternal mortality.
¶ Beach, B., Brown, R., Ferrie, J., Saavedra, M., and Thomas, D. (2022). Reevaluating the Long-Term Impact of In Utero Exposure to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. Journal of Political Economy, 130(7):1963–1990.
➟ Methods: DiD; treatment: in-utero exposure to the flu; outcome: socio-economic status in adulthood.
¶ Bütikofer, A. and Salvanes, K. G. (2020). Disease Control and Inequality Reduction: Evidence from a Tuberculosis Testing and Vaccination Campaign. Review of Economic Studies, 87(5):2087–2125.
➟ Methods: DiD; treatment: tuberculosis control program; outcome: education, earnings, and others.
¶ Jin, L., Tang, R., Ye, H., Yi, J., and Zhong, S. (2023). Path Dependency in Physician Decisions. Review of Economic Studies, 00:1–38.
➟ Methods: simple regressions; treatment: previous physicians’ treatment decisions; outcome: physicians’ treatment decisions.