Comprehensive in coverage this textbook, written by academics from leading institutions, discusses current developments and debates in modern health economics from an international perspective. Economic models are presented in detail, complemented by real-life explanations and analysis, and discussions of the influence of such theories on policymaking. Offering sound pedagogy and economic rigor, Health Economics focuses on building intuition alongside appropriate mathematical formality, translating technical language into accessible economic narrative. Rather than shying away from intellectual building blocks, students are introduced to technical and theoretical foundations and encouraged to apply these to inform empirical studies and wider policymaking. This book is designed for advanced undergraduate courses in health economics and policy but may also interest postgraduate students in economics, medicine and health policy. Ideal length for one-semester courses. “A very thorough introduction to health economics, combining the important theoretical literature from economics, including neighboring fields, with an account of the actual systems which allocate medical care in its various dimensions.” ― Kenneth J. Arrow, Stanford University, USA, and Nobel Prizewinning economist “With a readable, breezy style and a deft touch at explaining sophisticated concepts, Health Economics approaches health and health care from a uniquely modern and engaging economic perspective. This book should have very broad appeal.” ― Alan Garber, Harvard University, USA “This comprehensive and up-to-the-minute book offers an engaging introduction to the complex subject of health economics, covering every aspect of the market. I look forward to using this book in the classroom.” ― Janet M. Currie, Princeton University, USA “An exceptionally rich and comprehensive undergraduate textbook that covers the traditional building blocks of health economics and addresses pertinent policy questions. This book is a must for health economics courses throughout the world.” ― Maarten Lindeboom, VU University, the Netherlands A very thorough introduction to health economics, combining the important theoretical literature from economics, including neighboring fields, with an account of the actual systems which allocate medical care in its various dimensions. – Kenneth J. Arrow, Stanford University, USA, and Nobel Prizewinning economist With a readable, breezy style and a deft touch at explaining sophisticated concepts, Health Economics approaches health and health care from a uniquely modern and engaging economic perspective. This book should have very broad appeal. – Alan Garber, Harvard University, USA This comprehensive and up-to-the-minute book offers an engaging introduction to the complex subject of health economics, covering every aspect of the market. I look forward to using this book in the classroom. – Janet M. Currie, Princeton University, USA An exceptionally rich and comprehensive undergraduate textbook that covers the traditional building blocks of health economics and addresses pertinent policy questions. This book is a must for health economics courses throughout the world. – Maarten Lindeboom, VU University, the Netherlands Health Economics introduces students of economics, public health, and medicine to the modern field of health economics. The book emphasizes the link between economic theory and health policy, and covers both the established models of health insurance and the dilemmas that policy makers currently face. Features include: * Broad scope, featuring comparative health policy and empirical examples from around the world * Topical issues such as the obesity epidemic, economic epidemiology, socioeconomic health disparities, and behavioral economics * The latest research including the Oregon Medicaid Experiment and the potential impacts of US health reform Student-friendly, Health Economics is written in an engaging, lively style, enhanced by cartoons and images that relate the principles of health economics to everyday life. It also offers hundreds of exercises to help solidify and extend understanding. Jay Bhattacharya is a Professor at Stanford University, School of Medicine, USA. Timothy Hyde is professor of economics at Oberlin College, USA. Peter Tu is a doctoral student at Harvard University, USA.