This course provides an introduction to the field of health economics. Health care is one of the largest sectors in the U.S. economy and it is one of the most important individual “goods” that we produce and consume. Moreover, health care and health policy is at the forefront of political discourse. This class will teach us to better understand microeconomic principles and how they apply to the field of health. We will also learn to carefully read and interpret empirical findings in the health economics literature. Topics will include markets for health and health care, health insurance markets, health policy, as well as public health topics. The emphasis will be on the U.S. health care market, but we will briefly compare other health systems as well. By the end of this course, students should better understand the health care system in the U.S. and be better equipped to assess health policies.