Economic Analysis Effective public health professionals are adept at using a variety of economic tools to assist them in creating public health services and programs in communities where they are most needed. USE the designated readings to acquaint yourself with the tools used in economic analysis. • Baghbanian, A., Hughes, I., Kebriaei, A., & Khavarpour, F. A. (2012). Adaptive decision-making: How Australian healthcare managers decide. Australian Health Review, 36(1), 49–56. Copyright 2012 by Australian Hospital Association. Reprinted by permission of Australian Hospital Association via the Copyright Clearance Center. •de Bekker-Grob, E. W., Ryan, M., & Gerard, K. (2012). Discrete choice experiments in health economics: A review of the literature. Health Economics, 21(2), 145–172. Copyright 2012 by John Wiley & Sons— Journals. Reprinted by permission of John Wiley & Sons—Journals via the Copyright Clearance Center. •Elshaug, A. G., Watt, A. M., Mundy, L., & Willis, C. D. (2012). Over 150 potentially low-value health care practices: An Australian study. Medical Journal of Australia, 197(10), 556–560. Copyright 2012 by Australasian Medical Publishing Company. Reprinted by permission of Australasian Medical Publishing Company via the Copyright Clearance Center. •Hutton, J. (2012). ‘Health Economics’ and the evolution of economic evaluation of health technologies. Health Economics, 21(1), 13–18. Byrnes, J., Petrie, D. J., Doran, C. M., & Shakeshaft, A. (2012).The efficiency of a volumetric alcohol tax in Australia. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 10(1), 37–49. Copyright 2012 by Adis Data Information BV, Open Mind Journals. Reprinted by permission of by Adis Data Information BV, Open Mind Journals via the Copyright Clearance Center. •Chaufan, C., Hong, G. H., & Fox, P. (2009). Taxing ‘sin foods’—Obesity prevention and public health policy. New England Journal of Medicine, 361(24), e113. Retrieved from http://healthcarereform.nejm.org/?p=2437 •Skov, S. J., Chikritzhs, T. N., Kypri, K., Miller, P. G., Hall, W. D., Daube, M. M., & Moodie, A. R. (2011). Is the ‘alcopops’ tax working? Probably yes but there is a bigger picture. Medical Journal of Australia, 195(2), 84–86. Then, • Explain how you would use a cost-benefit analysis to assist with resource allocation in relation to public health services and products. • Think about the strengths and weaknesses of the public health system. Identify the gaps that exist. Explain the challenges in meeting demand and investing in health services and products in order to close those gaps. • Describe a new potential reform you would implement in your chosen country to bridge the identified gap. • Explain how your newly created reform would contribute to a stronger public health system in Australia. Assessment Criteria • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the principles of cost-benefit analysis • Shows ability to interpret and analyse relevant information and literature on public health systems and demand and investment in public health • Analyses strengths and constraints of a public health system using health economics principles • Demonstrates ability to apply knowledge and understanding of health economics, to propose a health reform