Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive and critical review of key resources in health economics, serving as an essential guide for researchers, policymakers, and students. We systematically evaluate core textbooks, influential journals, robust databases, and cutting-edge online resources. The review also analyzes current research trends and methodological advancements in health economics. By synthesizing this information, we offer insights into the evolving landscape of health economics and identify gaps in existing resources, providing direction for future resource development and research focus.
Introduction
Health economics plays a pivotal role in shaping healthcare policies and improving health systems globally. As the field rapidly evolves, staying abreast of key resources and emerging trends is crucial. This review aims to critically assess the most impactful and current resources in health economics, providing a curated ‘bookmark’ for professionals and researchers in the field.
Methodology
We conducted a systematic search of health economics resources published between 2000 and 2024. Databases searched included PubMed, EconLit, and Web of Science. We also surveyed leading health economists to identify key resources. Inclusion criteria focused on relevance, impact factor (for journals), citation frequency, and comprehensiveness of coverage.
Core Textbooks and Reference Materials
“Handbook of Health Economics” (Culyer & Newhouse, eds., 2000; Pauly, McGuire & Barros, eds., 2012)
- Comprehensive coverage of theoretical and empirical health economics
- Critical analysis: While extensive, some chapters in the 2012 edition are already outdated given rapid changes in healthcare systems
“Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes” (Drummond et al., 2015)
- Gold standard for health economic evaluation methodology
- Critical analysis: Excels in explaining complex methods, but could benefit from more case studies in low and middle-income countries
“Health Economics” (Bhattacharya, Hyde & Tu, 2013)
- Strong focus on US healthcare system
- Critical analysis: Excellent for US-focused research, but lacks global perspective
Key Journals in Health Economics:
Journal of Health Economics (Impact Factor: 2.947, 2023)
- Publishes theoretical and empirical research in health economics
- Critical analysis: High-quality articles, but publication times can be lengthy
Health Economics (Impact Factor: 2.784, 2023)
- Focuses on health economic policy analysis
- Critical analysis: Strong methodological papers, but could improve coverage of developing economies
Value in Health (Impact Factor: 5.725, 2023)
- Emphasizes health technology assessment and pharmacoeconomics
- Critical analysis: Excellent for applied research, but theoretical contributions are less prominent
Essential Databases and Data Sources:
WHO Global Health Expenditure Database
- Provides comprehensive health expenditure data for 190 countries
- Critical analysis: Valuable for cross-country comparisons, but data quality varies across countries
OECD Health Statistics
- Offers detailed health system performance data for OECD countries
- Critical analysis: High-quality data, but limited to developed economies
Global Burden of Disease Study (IHME)
- Provides comprehensive disease burden and risk factor estimates
- Critical analysis: Unparalleled in scope, but methodologies for some estimates are debated
Online Resources and Tools
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) Health Economics Program
- Produces cutting-edge working papers in health economics
- Critical analysis: High-quality research, but US-centric
Centre for Health Economics, University of York
- Offers various decision-analytic models and guidelines
- Critical analysis: Excellent methodological resources, but could expand applied policy analysis
Current Research Trends
Universal Health Coverage financing 7.2 Economic impact of pandemics (e.g., COVID-19) 7.3 Value-based healthcare and outcomes-based pricing 7.4 Behavioral economics in health
Emerging Methodologies
Machine learning in health economic modeling 8.2 Big data analytics for health economics research 8.3 Distributional cost-effectiveness analysis
Gaps and Future Directions
Need for more comprehensive resources on health economics in low and middle-income countries 9.2 Lack of standardized approaches to incorporate equity considerations in economic evaluations 9.3 Limited integration of big data and AI methodologies in mainstream health economics resources
Conclusion
This critical review provides a curated guide to essential health economics resources and highlights emerging trends in the field. While existing resources offer robust foundations, there is a clear need for more diverse, globally representative, and technologically advanced materials. Future resource development should focus on addressing these gaps to support the evolving needs of health economists worldwide.
References
Culyer, A. J., & Newhouse, J. P. (Eds.). (2000). Handbook of Health Economics (Vol. 1). Elsevier. Link
Pauly, M. V., McGuire, T. G., & Barros, P. P. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of Health Economics (Vol. 2). Elsevier. Link
