Welcome to Economic Lens
Economics Lens articles are prepared by EBD production and research team with Jacqueline Mallender.
Guest experts are also invited to contribute found in the Contributor category.
These Economics Lens are intended to be helpful, straightforward, jargon-busting discussions and are designed to demystify important healthcare and economic topics.
They are for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.
If you would like to commission EBD to provide professional advice please contact us here.
Economic Workforce Planning: Treating People as Assets, Not Costs
In this article, we’ll argue that, despite recent history, treating healthcare staff as a cost and not an asset needs to be reversed when developing...
Spring Statement 2022: Opportunity or Threat to Public Health?
There is a compelling case for the Chancellor to restore real spending levels on public health and illness prevention in England in his Spring...
Workforce Planning and Economic Value
Workforce planning in health isn’t just about getting the numbers right, it is about maximising the economic value of our health and care...
The Economic Value of a Healthy Health Workforce
Health professionals are expensive to train, recruit, and provide cover for when absent. We look at the economic cost to the health system when they...
Do Health System Efficiency Targets Give Economic Efficiency A Bad Name
Efficiency targets for integrated health systems can be counter-productive. Here we explore the different types of health system economic...
Economics and Value Based Healthcare
When setting health system goals, let’s think beyond the Value based healthcare triple aim and look at personal value, technical value, allocative...
The Economics of Health Spending: How Much is Enough?
Global health spending is expected to increase by 38% by 2050. In this blog, we ask what is driving that growth, how is it financed, and is it...
The Economic Impact of Mental Health & Covid-19
There are huge economic costs arising from individuals living with mental health conditions. These have likely been exacerbated by...
The Economics behind “Fair Shares” Funding Formulae for Health Services
Government funded health services account for around 60% of health expenditure.
The Economics of Preventative Healthcare
On the face of it, raising taxes on products which harm health is likely to be a win-win. Why are the economics of preventative healthcare a little...
Integrated Care Systems & Financial Flows
The new integrated care systems being established across England have ambitious goals to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.
The Economic Value of Personal Wellbeing
According to a study conducted by O.C. Tanner in the 2022 Global Culture Report, only 49% of employees in the UK feel a sense of personal wellbeing...
Integrated Care Systems: What is the evidence?
Across the world, there is a growing consensus that Integrated Care Systems and People-Centred Care have the potential to deliver significant...
What is a Health Economist: 10 ways they can help
What is a Health Economist? A health economist is someone who is an expert in applying the principles of economics to healthcare. They use...
£38bn per annum: A comprehensive economic cost of child poverty in the UK
Cost of Child Poverty in the UK How many children live in poverty in the UK? "For the 3.9 million children in the UK living in poverty, the soaring...
Health Financing Explained: Revenue Sources
Revenue sources can be done at scale through government contributions, taxes, social insurance contributions, private insurance contributions, or...
Health Financing Explained: Strategic Purchasing
Pooled funds are used to provide strategic purchasing of health care services…
Health Financing Explained: Risk Pooling
Risk Pooling requires funds gathered at scale can be pooled together in a way that allows them to be used more efficiently and...
Health Financing Explained: Provider Payment Models
Providers (such as hospitals and doctors) need to be paid for the health care services they provide. This can be done through a variety of provider...
What Are Essential Health Benefits? A Simple Guide
Essential Health Benefits: Governments and health insurers use pooled funds to purchase health benefits for their citizens or insured...
What are Levels of Care? A Simple Guide
Levels of care describe the severity of an issue and the kinds of health conditions the doctors treat as well as the specialities that they...
What Are The Different Types of Healthcare Providers? A Simple Guide
This article looks at the ownership structures of the different types of healthcare providers
What are Integrated Care Systems? A Simple Guide
This article provides an overview of what is meant by integrated care, the evidence that supports it as a health system model
What are Health System Goals? A Simple Guide
Health system goals are the objectives that a healthcare system sets to improve the population health and the performance of the health system....
The Economic Value of the Breast Clinician Credential
This project involved the development of a value proposition for the Credential, and an economic model to measure the return on investment of the...
The Health Economics of Patient Safety
Patient safety is a top priority for patients, healthcare professionals, healthcare provider organisations, those that purchase healthcare on behalf...
The Health Economics of Climate Change
Climate change is a public health issue because it threatens the well-being of people around the world. The health economic risks posed by climate...
Wider Determinants of Health Explained
The wider determinants of health are the social, economic and environmental factors that influence our health.
The Economics of Climate Adaptation
There will be opportunities for the UK from climate change. Warmer winters may sound quite appealing at this moment as we look forward to a winter...
Health Inequalities Explained
Health inequalities are differences in health outcomes, access to care and/or health determinants that exist between different population groups due...
What Is Social Care? A Simple Guide
In this economic lens we look at what social care is and who might need it, the relationship between social care and healthcare.
Stakeholders In Healthcare: An Overview
What Is A Stakeholder In Healthcare? Stakeholders are individuals or groups who have an interest in a sector, such as the health system. They can...
The Healthcare Workforce: A Simple Guide
The terms healthcare workforce or healthcare professionals cover a vast array of disciplines and professional practices. There are over 350...
Recent Articles
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Financing UK Climate Change Adaptation: Can We Afford It?
Climate change is now a well-known, broadly recognised and politically contentious phenomenon that is taking place across the globe. As ...![health outcomes healthy populations](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/health-outcomes-health-economics.png)
The 6 essential questions you need to ask health economists when their analysis includes health outcomes.
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Integrated Care Systems: Value Case For Child Health Hubs
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A Simple Model for Understanding Health Inequalities
We can observe the staggering scale of health inequalities and differences experienced by different communities. However, although the symptoms are ...
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Financing UK Climate Change Adaptation: Can We Afford It?
Climate change is now a well-known, broadly recognised and politically contentious phenomenon that is taking place across the globe. As ...
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The 6 essential questions you need to ask health economists when their analysis includes health outcomes.
A look at the Economic Lens articles by Economics By Design shows that concepts such as ‘effectiveness’, ‘efficiency’, ‘productivity’ and ‘value’ ...
![Child-health-hub-economic-model](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Child-health-hub-economic-model.png)
Integrated Care Systems: Value Case For Child Health Hubs
Integrated care systems for children can provide significant benefits for children and their families, for those working with children across ...
![Health-inequalities-terry-young](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Health-inequalities-terry-young-1.2.png)
A Simple Model for Understanding Health Inequalities
We can observe the staggering scale of health inequalities and differences experienced by different communities. However, although the symptoms are ...
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Medical Technology ‘Med Tech’: Health Economic Value Explained
Medical Technology - Med Tech is a rapidly growing sector with numerous innovations emerging every day. This technology has the ...![top-10-pharmaceutical-markets-worldwide](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/top-10-pharmaceutical-markets-worldwide.png)
Pharmaceutical Value Explained
The pharmaceutical industry is a significant contributor to the global economy and to health systems and health care across the ...![example-Care-Pathway-chronic-condition](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/example-Care-Pathway-chronic-condition.png)
The Value Of Care Pathways Explained
Integrated care is increasingly underpinned by formal pre-defined care pathways for individuals with complex needs who need support from a ...
![Medical-Technology-Industry-Europe](/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Medical-Technology-Industry-Europe.png)
Medical Technology ‘Med Tech’: Health Economic Value Explained
Medical Technology - Med Tech is a rapidly growing sector with numerous innovations emerging every day. This technology has the ...
![top-10-pharmaceutical-markets-worldwide](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/top-10-pharmaceutical-markets-worldwide.png)
Pharmaceutical Value Explained
The pharmaceutical industry is a significant contributor to the global economy and to health systems and health care across the ...
![example-Care-Pathway-chronic-condition](/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/example-Care-Pathway-chronic-condition.png)
The Value Of Care Pathways Explained
Integrated care is increasingly underpinned by formal pre-defined care pathways for individuals with complex needs who need support from a ...
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Integrated Care Systems: Value Case For Child Health Hubs
Integrated care systems for children can provide significant benefits for children and their families, for those working with children across ...![Health-inequalities-terry-young](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Health-inequalities-terry-young-1.2.png)
A Simple Model for Understanding Health Inequalities
We can observe the staggering scale of health inequalities and differences experienced by different communities. However, although the symptoms are ...![child health services model integration of health and social care](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/child-health-services-model-intgration-of-health-and-social-care.png)
Integrated Healthcare for Children: The Child Health Hub
An "ideal" child health integrated healthcare system can be described as one that acknowledges the distinct requirements of children, young ...
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Integrated Care Systems: Value Case For Child Health Hubs
Integrated care systems for children can provide significant benefits for children and their families, for those working with children across ...
![Health-inequalities-terry-young](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Health-inequalities-terry-young-1.2.png)
A Simple Model for Understanding Health Inequalities
We can observe the staggering scale of health inequalities and differences experienced by different communities. However, although the symptoms are ...
![child health services model integration of health and social care](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/child-health-services-model-intgration-of-health-and-social-care.png)
Integrated Healthcare for Children: The Child Health Hub
An "ideal" child health integrated healthcare system can be described as one that acknowledges the distinct requirements of children, young ...
![climate-change-climate-adaptation-global](/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/climate-change-climate-adaptation-global.png)
Financing UK Climate Change Adaptation: Can We Afford It?
Climate change is now a well-known, broadly recognised and politically contentious phenomenon that is taking place across the globe. As ...![essential health benefits UHC cube](/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Essential-Health-Benefits-UHC-cube_ebd.png)
What Are Essential Health Benefits? A Simple Guide
Essential Health Benefits: Governments and health insurers use pooled funds to purchase health benefits for their citizens or insured populations ...![health financing provider payment models](/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/health-financing-provider-payment-models_ebd.png)
Health Financing Explained: Provider Payment Models
Providers (such as hospitals and doctors) need to be paid for the health care services they provide. This can be ...
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Financing UK Climate Change Adaptation: Can We Afford It?
Climate change is now a well-known, broadly recognised and politically contentious phenomenon that is taking place across the globe. As ...
![essential health benefits UHC cube](/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Essential-Health-Benefits-UHC-cube_ebd.png)
What Are Essential Health Benefits? A Simple Guide
Essential Health Benefits: Governments and health insurers use pooled funds to purchase health benefits for their citizens or insured populations ...
![health financing provider payment models](/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/health-financing-provider-payment-models_ebd.png)
Health Financing Explained: Provider Payment Models
Providers (such as hospitals and doctors) need to be paid for the health care services they provide. This can be ...
![health outcomes healthy populations](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/health-outcomes-health-economics.png)
The 6 essential questions you need to ask health economists when their analysis includes health outcomes.
A look at the Economic Lens articles by Economics By Design shows that concepts such as ‘effectiveness’, ‘efficiency’, ‘productivity’ and ‘value’ ...![health economist economic evaluation logic model](/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/health-economist-economic-evaluation-logic-model_EBD-20221125-070623.png)
What is a Health Economist: 10 ways they can help
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The Economic Value of Personal Wellbeing
According to a study conducted by O.C. Tanner in the 2022 Global Culture Report, only 49% of employees in the ...
![health outcomes healthy populations](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/health-outcomes-health-economics.png)
The 6 essential questions you need to ask health economists when their analysis includes health outcomes.
A look at the Economic Lens articles by Economics By Design shows that concepts such as ‘effectiveness’, ‘efficiency’, ‘productivity’ and ‘value’ ...
![health economist economic evaluation logic model](/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/health-economist-economic-evaluation-logic-model_EBD-20221125-070623.png)
What is a Health Economist: 10 ways they can help
What is a Health Economist? A health economist is someone who is an expert in applying the principles of economics ...
![organisations wellbeing 2021](/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Organisations-Wellbeing-2021_EBD.png)
The Economic Value of Personal Wellbeing
According to a study conducted by O.C. Tanner in the 2022 Global Culture Report, only 49% of employees in the ...
![climate-change-climate-adaptation-global](/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/climate-change-climate-adaptation-global.png)
Financing UK Climate Change Adaptation: Can We Afford It?
Climate change is now a well-known, broadly recognised and politically contentious phenomenon that is taking place across the globe. As ...![public health economics prevention value roi](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/public-health-economics-prevention-1.png)
Value of Prevention
Prevention has been recognised as an important aspect of public health. It is often said that 'prevention is better than ...![social care elderly care recipients](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/social-care-elderly-care-recipients.png)
What Is Social Care? A Simple Guide
In this economic lens we look at what social care is and who might need it, the relationship between social ...
![climate-change-climate-adaptation-global](/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/climate-change-climate-adaptation-global.png)
Financing UK Climate Change Adaptation: Can We Afford It?
Climate change is now a well-known, broadly recognised and politically contentious phenomenon that is taking place across the globe. As ...
![public health economics prevention value roi](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/public-health-economics-prevention-1.png)
Value of Prevention
Prevention has been recognised as an important aspect of public health. It is often said that 'prevention is better than ...
![social care elderly care recipients](/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/social-care-elderly-care-recipients.png)
What Is Social Care? A Simple Guide
In this economic lens we look at what social care is and who might need it, the relationship between social ...
![training value enhancing value of nhs medical careers](/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/training-value-enhancing-value-of-nhs-medical-careers.png)
Economic Workforce Planning: Treating People as Assets, Not Costs
In this article, we’ll argue that, despite recent history, treating healthcare staff as a cost and not an asset needs ...![Education and Training healthcare workforce training cycle](/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Education-and-Training-healthworforce-training-cycle.png)
Educating & Training The Healthcare Workforce: An Overview
The Healthcare Workforce The healthcare workforce is an integral part of any successful health system. There are many different professions ...![countries-with-most-foreign-trained-doctors-healthcare-workforce](/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/countries-with-the-most-foreign-trained-doctors-healthcare-workforce.png)
The Healthcare Workforce: A Simple Guide
The terms healthcare workforce or healthcare professionals cover a vast array of disciplines and professional practices. There are over 350 ...
![training value enhancing value of nhs medical careers](/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/training-value-enhancing-value-of-nhs-medical-careers.png)
Economic Workforce Planning: Treating People as Assets, Not Costs
In this article, we’ll argue that, despite recent history, treating healthcare staff as a cost and not an asset needs ...
![Education and Training healthcare workforce training cycle](/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Education-and-Training-healthworforce-training-cycle.png)
Educating & Training The Healthcare Workforce: An Overview
The Healthcare Workforce The healthcare workforce is an integral part of any successful health system. There are many different professions ...
![countries-with-most-foreign-trained-doctors-healthcare-workforce](/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/countries-with-the-most-foreign-trained-doctors-healthcare-workforce.png)
The Healthcare Workforce: A Simple Guide
The terms healthcare workforce or healthcare professionals cover a vast array of disciplines and professional practices. There are over 350 ...