Description

In an era of rising health care costs, an aging population, emerging global health threats, and evolving insurance markets and regulatory environments, the questions of how we provide and pay for health care—and improve health—are critical. The Project on Foundational Research in Health Care Markets and Policies aims to develop and support the advancement of fundamental economic research on such questions.

Medical and public health research are at the forefront of efforts to improve health care delivery and effectiveness. What sets this project apart is its primary focus on applying the tools of economic analysis to understand the basic forces—supply and demand, incentives, labor trends, and investments in human capital, for example—that influence health care policies and the systems in which they are implemented.

This project will focus specifically on how the health care sector functions, the relationship between this sector and other parts of the economy, and the appropriate roles of markets and governments in providing health-related services.

To further this research, the project will offer opportunities for mentorship and professional development for emerging scholars at the dissertation and postdoctoral stages. Additionally, the project will host visiting scholars throughout the year and hold an annual conference to engage a community of scholars across institutions.

Annual Reports

• 2017 Annual Report
• 2016 Annual Report

Leadership

Casey B. Mulligan, Director
Casey B. Mulligan authored the 2015 book Side Effects and Complications: The Economic Consequences of Health-Care Reform. His recent research is concerned with capital and labor taxation, and he has written widely on the labor effects of the Affordable Care Act.

Tomas J. Philipson (Founding Project Director)
Tomas J. Philipson is a globally recognized health care economist and has received numerous worldwide research awards. He has served in key political positions in health policy for the federal government and has also consulted for many Fortune 100 companies. Dr. Philipson focuses his research on health economics and its impact on public policy decision-making and frequently contributes his expertise to popular press including his monthly Forbes column.

David O. Meltzer
David O. Meltzer M.D., Ph.D., studies problems in health economics and public policy with a focus on the theoretical foundations of medical cost-effectiveness analysis and the cost and quality of hospital care. He is currently leading a study of effects of improved continuity in the doctor-patient relationship between the inpatient and outpatient setting on the costs and outcomes of care for frequently hospitalized Medicare patients.

Funding

The Project on Foundational Research on Health Care Markets and Policies gratefully acknowledges generous support provided by:

• the Charles Koch Foundation;
• David Booth, MBA ’71;
• the Kilts Family Foundation;
• the Thomas W. Smith Foundation;
• William Harrison; and
• Pfizer Inc.

Support for this project promotes inquiry that will enhance fundamental knowledge of the economic forces that influence health care policies and the systems in which they are implemented. Donations provide support for our core activities:

• conferences;
• visiting scholars;
• programming for students and young researchers;
• direct research support; and
• the dissemination of powerful new ideas

If you are interested in supporting our ongoing work, please contact Casey Mulligan at c-mulligan@uchicago.edu.

Health Economics Fellows

• 2016-17 Health Economics Fellows
• 2017-18 Health Economics Fellows

Contact

If you would like to get in touch with the Project on Foundational Research in Health Care Markets and Policies, please email healthecon@uchicago.edu.