Last modified: 18 Aug 2026 12:17
This course introduces students to key economic concepts that help explain and predict health behaviours. Focus is placed on building knowledge regarding how economic concepts and tools can be used to understand and influence health behaviours. Theoretical models of health behaviour and health production are introduced and examined, together with concepts related to equity and health inequality, to understand the extent to which these can be applied in the development and evaluation of policies and interventions that aim to inform or change behaviours. The types of health behaviours studied include lifestyle choices relating to diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking, both for healthy populations as well as for people with long-term conditions.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Health behaviour in terms of lifestyles in relation to smoking, alcohol, diet and physical activity are major influences on the health and well-being of individuals and populations. Using economics concepts and tools, this course introduces students to the main important socio-economic factors that contribute to individual decisions regarding health behaviour. Attention is placed on the insights that economics can provide for the development of effective interventions and policies to influence health behavior, and how these interventions and policies may be evaluated.
Course Aims:
The aims of this course are to build and enhance knowledge and understanding relating to:
1. Basic economics concepts and how these are applied to health behaviours, critically reflecting on their strengths and limitations
2. More advanced economic concepts and theories of health behaviour, critically reflecting on their strengths and limitations
3. The role of data and economic measurement techniques in understanding trends and explanations relating to health behaviour, health and health inequality
4. The types of interventions and health policies designed to influence health behaviour and health
5. How economic concepts and methods are used in the development and evaluation of policies to encourage health behaviour change and improvements in health and well-being
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback is provided online using standardised rubric with additional individualised comments to highlight areas of excellence and/or improvement. |
Word Count | ||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback is provided online using standardised rubric with additional individualised comments to highlight areas of excellence and/or improvement. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback is provided online using standardised rubric with additional individualised comments to highlight areas of excellence and/or improvement. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | Word Count | |||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand basic economics concepts and how these are applied to health behaviours, critically reflecting on their strengths and limitations |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate how economic concepts and methods can be used to develop and evaluate policies that encourage health behaviour change and improvements in health and well-being |
| Conceptual | Apply | Apply more advanced economic concepts and theories to health behaviour, critically reflecting on their strengths and limitations |
| Procedural | Analyse | Analyse the contribution of economic measurement tools to understanding health inequality |
| Procedural | Understand | Understand the types of interventions and health policies designed to influence health behaviour and health inequality |
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