Research at M-CHEP aims to improve health care systems

M-CHEP includes researchers from different areas such as economics, health services research, public health, behavioral sciences, and global health, who conduct research on health economics and policy. As such, we are working on a broad range of research topics, which can be summarised in four main research areas:

  • Design of health care systems

  • Health services research

  • Economics of population health

  • Global health economics

Our research areas

Design of health care systems

Of particular focus to the center is research informing the design of health care systems. This entails providing evidence on how health systems should be organized and structured to ensure high-quality and efficient care and includes questions on financing, reimbursement, and planning of health services and structures and the corresponding economic incentives.

Featured Publication

Saving the public from the private? Incentives and outcomes in dual practice

Journal of Public Economic Theory


Further publications are listed here.

Involved researchers

Robert Nuscheler

Leonie Sundmacher

Harald Tauchmann

Helmut Farbmacher

Joachim Winter

Simon Reif

Health services research

Health services research examines how people access healthcare, the costs of care, and the outcomes of healthcare services to improve efficiency and quality. It focuses on understanding the organization, delivery, and financing of health services to inform policy and practice. This particularly includes identifying and addressing issues of overuse, underuse, and misuse of services, as well as evaluating (new) care programs.

Involved researchers

Alexander Hapfelmeier

Antonius Schneider

Leonie Sundmacher

Michael Laxy

Nikkil Sudharsanan

Economics of population health

The focus in this field is on the prevalence, prevention, and costs of predominantly chronic diseases, particularly in the context of unhealthy lifestyles. A further aim is to understand the impact of health interventions on morbidity, mortality and economic quantities. Examples include assessing taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages, blood pressure screenings, or vaccination programms. Socioeconomic differences and inequities are of particular interest.

Involved researchers

Alexander Hapfelmeier

Antonius Schneider

Michael Laxy

Joachim Winter

Harald Tauchmann

Global health

The field of "Global Health" explores health and disease from a social science perspective, with a particular focus on countries in the Global South. It examines the interplay between poverty and disease, evaluates the impact of health promotion and poverty reduction interventions, and addresses gender inequality issues. This field also aims to enhance health system effectiveness by incorporating insights into human behavior, fostering trust, and promoting preventive health behaviors.

Involved researchers

Janina Steinert

Nikkil Sudharsanan

Michael Laxy

Andreas Landmann