While health itself cannot be traded on any market, products and services that produce health are traded on a number of different markets. Competition between providers, and diffferent provider payment methods (e.g. fee-for-service, capitation, pay-for-performance) create financial incentives that influence provider behaviour. Pre-payment systems are common (including tax, public and private health insurance), meaning that health care is rarely fully paid for by the consumer at the point of use. Severe market imperfections, such as information asymmetries between patients, providers and payers, mean that simplified economic models are of little to no use in analysing health financing and health care markets.
This course equips students to describe and discuss how the discipline of economics analyses the production of health, and to analyse the financing and production of health care in relation to the policy objectives of efficiency and equity. A limited amount of mathematical notation is used to introduce theoretical models. Empirical examples are mainly drawn from Sweden and from low- and middle-income countries.
For non-programme students applying as single-course students, the requirements are 120 ECTS, of which a minimum of 30 ECTS are within one of the following: health sciences, environmental health or social sciences.
English proficiency equivalent to English B/6 from Swedish Upper secondary education.
Academic credits
Applicants in some programs at Umeå University have guaranteed admission to this course. The number of places for a single course may therefore be limited.
Application code
UMU-30445
Application
Online applications are now open. You will be transferred to Universityadmissions.se.
Application deadline is
17 April 2023. How to apply
As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
For non-programme students applying as single-course students, the requirements are 120 ECTS, of which a minimum of 30 ECTS are within one of the following: health sciences, environmental health or social sciences.
English proficiency equivalent to English B/6 from Swedish Upper secondary education.
Academic credits
Applicants in some programs at Umeå University have guaranteed admission to this course. The number of places for a single course may therefore be limited.
Application code
UMU-F3022
Application
Application deadline was
16 January 2023.
The application period is closed.
Application and tuition fees
As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.