Assignment Task
Health Economics
Topic?Analyse recent trends in the purchase of private health insurance in Australia. What are the policy implications?
Need to complete rest parts ?Three recent trends in the purchase of private health insurance in Australia (1000 words)?Policy implications (700 words) in Draft documents?1700 words?
Purpose of essay
The main purpose of this major essay is for you to demonstrate your understanding of health economics and your ability to apply health economics theory, empirical evidence and data to health policy issues. Specifically, you will be able to show you can:
•describe a current health policy issue using economic concepts
•interpret and present economic data and evidence
•identify the key problems and economic concepts/theories involved
•analyse the issue from a health economics perspective
•identify and evaluate relevant evidence including empirical studies and secondary data sources
•analyse, critically evaluate and comment on evidence
•develop and clearly present an argument
•apply critical thinking skills
•communicate effectively
Presentation guidelines:
•Use formal language as appropriate to an academic essay
•Avoid rhetorical questions
•If you are using acronyms, please show them in full the first time they are used
•Please do define key terms (in your own words)
•Avoid intensifiers like ‘really’ or ‘very’ – keep to the facts as much as possible
•You are encouraged to use headings and sub-headings – this often helps with giving clarity to the structure of your essay
•Try and avoid bullet points unless they are clearly the best way of setting out the information. You can write a paragraph using: Firstly, …. Secondly, … etc.
•Try and lead the reader through the essay. If you are presenting any data make it clear what you want the reader to take away from the data, if you are going to present a number of different points to support an argument tell the reader you are about to do that. The reader should be able to clearly follow the logic in the argument you are making within the essay.
•Academic writing typically avoids the first person – however, in this essay there are places where it is appropriate. For example, it reads better to say ‘In this essay I will argue that….’ – rather than ‘it will be argued that’. In the body of the text using the third person can sound more objective. Although you are presenting your view or opinion– it is not presented as ‘I think…’ rather a case is made for a view based on theoretical and empirical evidence.
•It is OK not to have a definitive answer to the question in the essay – the conclusion may be that there is insufficient evidence
•Please number all tables and figures and ensure all tables and figures have a heading.
Referencing
•You should use between 10 and 40 references. [This restriction on the maximum number of references is for your benefit – to ensure you spend your time thinking about and writing up the economics components and not on too much time on reading secondary material]. This is a guide and you will not have marks taken off if you go above this number of references.
•You may use any referencing style so long as it is used consistently
•References do not count as part of the word limit
•Always reference the source of data such that it can be traced – if you cite a website also give the date accessed
•Use “ “ when using a direct quote and include a page number in the reference
•Try and put things in your own words (with citation) unless the way in which the authors say it is so good it is worthy of a direct quotation
•Referencing should be sufficiently clear that the reader to tell when an idea is yours versus when it is being appropriately attributed to someone else
•You do not need to reference core aspects of accepted economic theory – you should not reference lecture slides
Content guidelines
•You are expected to use economic theory to frame the issues within the topic you are discussing
•You are expected to draw on empirical evidence to support your argument – however, you are not expected to do an extensive review of the evidence. Please use no more than 40 references
•You are expected to integrate your knowledge of public health into your answers
•You are expected to look at the advantages and disadvantages of any policy you are discussing
•You may give an opinion, using the evidence (both theory and empirical evidence) to develop a case or argument to support this view.
•You are not expected to conduct anything beyond simple data analysis
•You may narrow your essay to explore one aspect of the broader question – e.g. after setting out the bigger picture health inequalities you may want to explore in more detail one aspect of inequality – such as inequality in access to primary care
•Your introduction should establish the purpose and scope of your essay, and provide a road map to guide the readers
Marking criteria
Criterion Marks allocated Requirements for full marks
Introduction 10 Clearly written introduction that includes the following:
Introduction to the topic
Brief introduction to the existing issues and relevant terms: what is the ‘economic problem’?, Why is it important?
Outline of essay’s arguments (it is standard format in an essay to end the introduction by setting out what you will be discussing in the essay and the case you will be making)
Main text:
Research and use of empirical evidence
25 Demonstrated appropriate level of research into the topic
Evidence of ability to evaluate and synthesise relevant evidence
Appropriate use and interpretation of data
Appropriate use of tables and data to illustrate arguments
Demonstrated good understanding of the issues
Main text:
Application of economic concepts 25 Evidence of applying relevant health economics concepts and theory to a real-world example
Correct application of health economics principles, including the cause of any relevant market failure
Correct use of health economics terminology
Appropriate use of graphs
Graphs correctly labelled and sufficiently explained
Demonstrated good understanding of the issues and relevant economic theory/theories
Main text: Development of an argument based on economic theory and empirical evidence 20 Demonstrated an ability to analyse a policy question from a health economics perspective
Demonstrated an ability to develop an argument supported by economic theory and empirical evidence
Demonstrates critical thinking and analytical skills
References are relevant to topic/arguments
Essay remains on-topic throughout
Clearly distinguishes between opinion and fact
Conclusion 10 Clearly demarcated conclusion
Concisely summarises the key arguments discussed throughout the essay (but should not be the same as the introduction)
Makes some interesting analytical points e.g.
Reflects upon strengths and weakness of the argument made in the essay
Draws relationships between the issue discussed and other issues in public health/health systems
Draws lessons for other countries/jurisdictions/systems
Does not introduce a new topic or new evidence within the conclusion
Structure and writing 8 Well-structured essay that is clear and easy to follow
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