In order to avoid the costs of purchasing a course packet, I will be placing copies of all Powerpoint lecture note slides on the web for you to download and print at your convenience. To view these slides, go to the above URL, which you may also reach through a hyperlink on my economics homepage. You will see a copy of this course syllabus. Scroll down to the Course Schedule near the bottom, and click on the topic for which you wish to view the slides. Powerpoint slides for each lecture will be available at least 24 hours before the start of each lecture.

Some advice on printing:
1. For the “Print what:” option, select “Handouts.”
2. For the “Slides per page” option, select 3.
3. In the Color/grayscale box, select “Pure black and white.” Otherwise, you will print out slides with white text and a black background, which are difficult to take notes on.

Class Format and Requirements

Format: Read the assignment before class, and come prepared to discuss either your questions about the reading or your applications of the ideas introduced here. We will occasionally discuss practice problems related to the reading in class.

Grading:

Class Participation	10%
Homework	10%
Midterm (Oct 1)	20%
Paper	20%
Class presentation	15%
Final exam	25%

Homework: There will be 3 homework assignments which are due in the first half of the semester. Students are permitted to work together on the homework assignments, but each student must formulate responses to each question with their own wording.

Paper: 35% of your grade will be based on a team project. Each team will select a health care company, and describe how the competitive strategy of that firm has been affected by changing market forces and government intervention in recent years. You may use material from class, journal articles, magazine and newspaper articles, and the internet to support your argument. Teams will consist of 3-4 students, and each team is expected to submit one paper with a maximum of 10 pages of text, double spaced and typed.

Class Presentation: Each team will present their analysis to the class at the end of the semester.  Presentations will be 20 to 30 minutes in length.

Make-ups: There will be no make-ups for missed coursework, assignments, and examination unless you receive the permission of the instructor prior to the date of the assignment or exam.

Extra credit: There will be no extra credit assignments.

Exams: The midterm and final exams will be in class, closed book.

Course Schedule

TOPIC	READINGS
1. An Overview of the Health Care Industry Lecture 1	S&N, Chapter 1
2. Health, Medical Care, and Medical Spending Lecture 2	S&N, Chapter 2
3. Demand for Medical Services Lecture 3 Lecture 4	S&N, Chapter 5
4. Medical Care Production and Costs Lecture 5 Lecture 5 Handouts	S&N, Chapter 7
5. The Demand for Medical Insurance Lecture 6	S&N, Chapter 6
6. Case Study: Biopure	Biopure Case Study
7. The Private Health Insurance Industry	S&N, Chapter 11
8. Health Care Market Structure, Conduct, & Performance Lecture 7	S&N, Chapter 8
9. Case Study: The Cost Conundrum	From The New Yorker, 7/1/2009
10. The Physician Market Lecture 8	S&N, Chapter 12
11. The Hospital Market Lecture 10	S&N, Chapter 13
12. The Pharmaceutical Industry Lecture 11 Lecture 12	S&N, Chapter 14
13. Government Regulation and Intervention Lecture 13	S&N, Chapter 9
14. Government Provision of Health Insurance Lecture 14 Lecture 15	S&N, Chapter 10