Political Economy of Women's Health
Description
Economic theory is used to justify many health policy decisions. Economic conditions are an important influence on women's health and knowledge of economics is essential for a complete understanding of women's health issues. This course will outline the basics of current mainstream economic theory, focussing on key economic concepts such as efficiency, scarcity, exchange, and competition. It will examine why health issues are difficult to deal with in an economic framework. Feminist critiques of economic theory will also be presented. The main techniques used in the economic evaluation of health services will be covered, as well as the related issue of the different ways in which health outcomes can be measured Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) for example. The difficulties encountered in measuring health, as opposed to illness, will be discussed. The course assumes no prior knowledge of economics.
Subject Code
WOHT90012
Credit Points
12.5
Objectives
Please see Generic Skills, below
Generic skills students will develop
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- Have developed a sophisticated awareness of the relationship between women's health and their economic situation
- have an in depth understanding of the most important features of mainstream economic
theory and understand why economic theory has difficulty in dealing with issues connected to health - Have an advanced understanding of the feminist critique of mainstream economic theory as it relates to women's health
- Comprehend how economic policies affect women's health, both directly and indirectly
- Have a critical understanding of the main methods used in the economic evaluation of health services, and the various attempts to measure health outcomes.
- Have enhanced writing skills
Pre-requisites and/or Co-requisites
None
Mode of Delivery
Intensive
Contact Time
Twenty-four hours of lectures/seminars/tutorials in the intensive period, supported by additional preliminary tutorials to a maximum of five hours.
Assessment
Class paper and written assignments totalling 4,000 words
Subject Coordinator
TBA
Venue
This subject is normally delivered in Japan
Dates
TBA
Course Fee
TBA
Prescribed Textbook
Course materials are provided to all participants
Online Learning System
Not applicable
Academic Coordinator
Associate Professor Jane Fisher
Deputy Director and Coordinator of International Programs
Centre for Women's Health, Gender & Society
Melbourne School of Population Health
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
AUSTRALIA
T: +61 3 8344 0687
F: +61 3 9347 9824
E: jrwf@unimelb.edu.au
Course Contact
Renae Louis
Project Manager
Melbourne Consulting and Custom Programs
The University of Melbourne
442 Auburn Road, Hawthorn
Victoria 3122
AUSTRALIA
T: +61 3 9810 3158
F: +61 3 9810 3149
E: r.louis@mccp.unimelb.edu.au
Application Process
Applications are managed by Student Services.