Economics of Healthcare
A Brief Introduction

A conversational and engaging introduction to the fundamentals of the healthcare system and the economist's way of viewing the world.

Andrew Friedson (Author)

9781009258432, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 November 2023

240 pages
24.3 x 17 x 1.2 cm, 0.54 kg

'This text is the perfect level for a health economics class that is mostly filled with non-majors. It assumes no background in economics, and the math background is minimal. Yet it conveys they key theory in a complete way.' Erick Eschker, Cal Poly Humboldt State University

An approachable beginner's guide to health economics that brings the economist's way of viewing the world to bear on the fundamentals of the US healthcare system. The conversational writing style, with occasional doses of humour, allows students to see how applicable economic reasoning can be to unpacking some of the sector's thorniest issues, while accessible real-world examples teach the institutional details of healthcare and health insurance, as well as the economics that underpin the behaviour of key players in these markets. Many chapters are enhanced by 'Supplements' that offer how-to guides to tools commonly used by health economists, and economists more generally. They help form the basic 'economist's toolbox' for readers with no prior training in economics, and offer deeper dives into interesting related material. A test bank and lectures slides are available online for instructors, alongside additional resources and readings for students, taken from popular media and health care and policy journals.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I. Patients: 1. How Economists View Human Behavior
2. Where Does Health Come From?
3. Demand for Medical Care
4. Health Insurance and Demand for Medical Care
5. Evaluating Evidence
Part II. Providers: 6. Provider Firms
7. The Medical Labor Force
8. Providers and Incentives
9. Hospitals
Part III. Health Insurers: 10. Health Insurance as a Product
11. Adverse Selection
12. Prices
13. Managed Care
14. Public Insurance
Part IV. The Sector at Large
15. Pharmaceuticals
16. Externalities
17. Medical Malpractice
18. Inequality
19. International Comparisons.

Subject Areas: Public finance [KFFD]