Center for Social Innovation

Faculty: Alan Garber, Douglas Owens

This course examines the application of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis, along with other evaluation techniques, to products and services such as medical care, whose "output" is difficult to measure.

How can this type of analysis help consumers, employers, and government evaluate whether they are receiving high value for their health care expenditures? How can they help producers of medical products and services anticipate reimbursement and market demand?

The course begins with the principles of economic evaluation techniques applied to health care. It focuses on a critical review of studies that apply such analysis to specific clinical problems. The emphasis is on insights into the practical application of evaluation techniques and state-of-the-art research into health care costs. The course culminates in a major project, in which groups of students apply these techniques to a topic or technology of their choice. Prerequisite: MGTECON 200 or equivalent basic microeconomics course. Also listed in the Medical School as Health Research and Policy (HRP) 392.

This elective course is offered to all Stanford GSB and Sloan students. Current students, please check MyGSB for more information.