Biography
Dr Costa-Font earned two undergraduate and research degrees, in economics (1996) and law (1997), both from Universitat de Barcelona, a master's degree in economic analysis from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in 1998. In 2000 he moved to LSE where he completed an MSc (Econ) in international health policy (specialising in health economics and public economics). After completing a PhD in economics, in 2001 he earned a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship based at LSE until 2003. He then moved back to Barcelona, where he joined the faculty of economics to teach microeconomics and health economics as a tenured lecturer (equivalent to associate professor in the US). During his time at the University of Barcelona, he set up the Centre for Economic Analysis and Social Policies, completed a third degree in political science and carried out research and consultancy for the World Bank and the European Commission. He joined the LSE faculty in 2007, initially as a lecturer and senior research fellow, and later as senior lecturer in the Department of Social Policy and the European Institute.
Positions held
Research Summary
Dr Costa-Font is an academic economist with an interest in policy and institutions. His research is on the economic analysis of welfare institutions, health, health care and aging, with a particular focus on Europe. His research and teaching attempts to understand the federalisation of European welfare states and the influence of wider social incentives in explaining preferences for health, insurance and redistribution. He has carried out research to understand how best to finance health and long-term care, the main constraints for the development of public and private insurance schemes, and how should the welfare state be territorially organised. Some of this work has been awarded major research prizes including the Bayer health economics award (2003), Edad & Vida Award on ageing research (2007) and La Caixa award (2008) for the best project on social sciences. Currently, Joan is working on the effects of devolution on the performance of European health systems and effect of identity and other environmental constraints in shaping preferences for health, insurance and redistribution.
He co-edits the journal Applied Economics, Perspectives and Policy| (from 2011), the LEQS Discussion Paper Series| (from 2009), eventually assists the editing of a range of academic journals and has accepted some editorial positions in relevant journals and working paper series. He has just finished editing a book Reforming Long Term care in Europe| published by Wiley/Blackwell and he co-edited The Economics of Health Technologies| published by Oxford University Press. Recently, he has been guest editor and co-editor of special issues for the Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Social Policy and Administration and Environment and Planning C and Economics of Innovation and New Technologies.
Teaching
Social Policy
SA4F7 The Economics of European Social Policy|
SA4X6 Welfare Analysis and Measurement|
SA4E9 Advanced Health Economics|
European Institute
EU429 Economic and Social Policy in the Mediterranean|
EU439 Political and Fiscal Integration and Disintegration in EU Member States|
Summer school
MG207: Health Policy, Management and Economics|
Areas of supervision
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Economics of Social Policy - Ageing, Health Insurance, Behaviour.
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Political Economy - Fiscal Federalism, European Single Market.
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Social Economics - Social Identity, Altruism, Culture
List of publications
Selected Publication (by area)
A. Economics of Social Policy
A.1 Aging
"Sources of Housing Wellbeing in Old Age: Environment or Investment?" Urban Studies, 2011, in press.
"Ageing, health, and health care" (with Breyer, F and Felder, S) Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 2010, 26(4): 674-90.
"Optimistic Old Age Disability and Longevity Expectations?" (with Costa-Font, M) Social Indicators Research, 2011, in press.
"Housing Wealth and Housing Decisions in Old Age: Sale and Reversion" (with J Gil and O Mascarilla). Housing Studies, 2010, 25 (3): 375 — 395
"'Ageing in Place'? An Examination of Elderly people housing preferences in Spain,"(with O Mascarilla and D Elvira). Urban Studies, 2009, 46(2): 295–316.
"Who is willing to pay for long-term care insurance in Catalonia?," (with J Rovira). Health Policy, 2008, 86(1): 72–84.
"Relative Income and Attitudes towards Long Term care Financing, " (with A Garcia and M Font-Vilalta). Geneva Papers of Risk and Insurance, 2008, 33(4):673-93.
"Projecting long-term care expenditure in four European Union member states: the influence of demographic scenarios" (with R Wittenberg, C Patxot, A Comas-Herrera, C Gori , L Pickard H Rothgang). Social Indicators Research, 2008, 86 (2): 303-321.
"Modeling an entitlement to long-term care services for older people in Europe: projections for long-term care expenditure to 2050, "(with R Wittenberg, C Patxot, A Comas-Herrera, C Gori, L Pickard H Rothgang). Journal of European Social Policy, 2007, 17 (1): 33-48.
"The Limits to the Design of Long Term Care Insurance Schemes: the Spanish Experience in Comparative Research" (with M Font Vilalta). International Social Security Review, 2006, 59(4): 91-110.
"Means Testing and the Heterogeneity of Housing Assets: Funding Long-Term Care in Spain," (O Mascarilla and D Elvira). Social Policy & Administration, 2006,40(5): 543–559.
"Future long-term care expenditure in Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom," (with R Wittenberg, C Patxot, A Comas-Herrera, C Gori, L Pickard H Rothgang). Ageing & Society, 2006, 26(1): 285-302.
"The intergenerational impact of long-term care financing alternatives in Spain,"(with C Patxot). Geneva Papers of Risk and Insurance, 2004, 29(4):599-620
A.2 Insurance
"Persistence despite Action" Health Inequalities in England, 1997-2007 (with McGuire, A and Hernandez-Quevedo, C). Health Policy, 2011, in press.
"Does Cost Sharing really reduce Inappropriate Prescriptions among the Elderly?" (with M Gemmill-Toyama). Health Policy, 2011, 101(2): 195-2008.
"Family Ties and the Crowding Out of Long Term Care Insurance" Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 2010, 26(4): 691-712.
"Biases in the Health Care Luxury Good Hypothesis? A Meta-regression Analysis" (with M Gemmill-Toyama, M and G Rubert). Journal of the Royal Statistical Society – Series A, 2011, 174, 95-107.
"Exploring the pathways of inequality in health access and financing in decentralised Spain," (with J Gil) Journal of European Social Policy, 19 (5): 446-458.
"Risk Attitudes and the Demand for Private Health Insurance: The importance of "Captive Preferences," (with Jaume Garcia). Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 2009, 80(4): 499-521.
"Competition in off-patent drug markets: Issues, regulation and evidence," (with P Kanavos and L Sheeley). Economic Policy, 2008, 23(55): 497–538.
"The Secession of the Wealthy: Demand for Private Health Insurance and Support for the National health System," (with M Jofre-Bonet). Bulletin of Economic Research, 2008, 60(3): 265-285.
"Public Health Expenditure and Spatial Interactions in a Decentralized National Health System," (with J Pons) Health Economics, 2007, 16 (3): 291 – 306.
"In Search of a Corrected Prescription Drug Elasticity Estimate: A Meta-Regression Approach," (with M Gemmill and A McGuire). Health Economics, 2007, 16(6): 627-643.
"Determinants of out-of-pocket pharmaceutical expenditure and access to drugs in Catalonia," (with P Kanavos and J Rovira). Applied Economics,2007, 39(5):541-551.
"Product differentiation, competition and regulation of new drugs: the case of statins in four European countries,"(with P Kanavos and A McGuire). Managerial and Decision Economics, 2007, 28 (4-5): 455-465.
"Are Private Health Insurance Subscribers Unsatisfied with the Spanish National Health System?," (with M Jofre-Bonet). Geneva Papers of Risk and Insurance, 2006, 31 (4): 650-668.
"Insurance Coverage and the Heterogeneity of Health and Drug Spending in the United States" (with P Kanavos and M Gemmill) Geneva Papers of Risk and Insurance, 2006, 31 (4): 669-691.
"Eliciting Preferences for Collectively Financed Health Programs: the 'Willingness to Assign' Approach, " (with J Rovira). Applied Economics, 2005,37(14), 1571–1583.
"National Health Service use, captive preferences and the demand for private health insurance in Spain," (with M Font Vilalta). Geneva Papers of Risk and Insurance, 2004, 29(4): 706-719.
"Demand for Private Health Insurance: How Important is the Quality Gap?," (with J Garcia). Health Economics, 2003, 12(7): 587-599.
A.3 Behavior
"Anorexia, Body Image and Peer Effects: Evidence from a Sample of European Women" (with Jofre-Bonet, M) Economica, 2011, in press.
"Decomposing Body Mass Index Gaps Between Mediterranean Countries: A Counterfactual Quantile Regression Analysis" (with D Fabbri and J Gil). Economics and Human Biology 2009, 7(3): 351–365.
"What lies behind socio-economic inequalities in obesity in Spain? A decomposition approach," (with J Gil). Food Policy, 2008, 33 (1): 61-73.
"Generational Effects and Gender Height Dimorphism in Contemporary Spain," (with J Gil). Economics and Human Biology, 2008, 6 (1): 1–18.
"Would Socio-Economic Inequalities in Depression fade away with Income Transfers?," (with J Gil). Journal of Happiness Studies, 2008, 9(4): 539-558.
"Revisiting the fat and jolly hypothesis: obesity and depression'" (with J Gil).Socio-Economic Review, 2006, 4(3): 513-542.
"Obesity and the incidence of chronic diseases in Spain: A seemingly unrelated probit approach, (with J Gil)" Economics and Human Biology, 3(2), 188-214.
"Smoking risks in Spain (part II): Perceptions of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Externalities," (with J Rovira, Kip Viscusi, F Antoñanzas, and I Carvalho). Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 2000, 21(2-3): 187-212
B. Political Economy
B.1 Fiscal Federalism
"Tackling Neglect and Mental Health Care Reform in a Devolved System of Welfare Governance (with L Salvador, J Cabases, J Alonso and D McDaid). Journal of Social Policy, 2011.
"Does Devolution lead to Regional Inequalities in Welfare Activity? "Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 2010. 28(3) 435 – 449.
"Devolution, Diversity and Welfare Reform: Long-Term Care in the 'Latin Rim'"..Social Policy and Administration, 2010, 44 (4): 481-494.
"Simultaneity, Asymmetric Devolution and Economic Incentives in Spanish Regional Elections". Regional and Federal Studies, 2009, 19(1): 165-184.
"The Impact of Decentralization and Inter-territorial Interactions on Spanish Health Expenditure," (with F Moscone) Empirical Economics, 2008, 34 (1): 167-184.
"Institutional Change, Innovation and Regulation Failure: Evidence from the Spanish Drug Market," (with J Puig-Junoy) Policy and Politics, 2007, 35(4): 701- 718.
"Devolution and the Inter-regional Inequalities in Health and Health Care in Spain," (with A Rico). Regional Studies, 2006, 40(8): 875–887.
"Vertical Competition in the Spanish National Health System (NHS)," (with A Rico) Public Choice, 2006,128 (3-4): 477-498.
"Path dependency and the allocation of public investment in Mexico" (with E Rodriguez) Environment and planning C : government and policy, 2006, 24 (2). pp. 297-311
"Diversity and regional inequalities: assessing the outcomes of the Spanish 'system of health care services', (with G López-Casasnovas and I Planas). Health Economics, 2005, 14(S): S221–S235.
"Power Rather than Path? The Dynamics of Institutional Change under Health Care Federalism," (with A Rico). Journal of Health Politics, Policy & Law, 2005,30(1): 231-252.
"Political Competition and Pork-barrel Politics in the Allocation of Public Investment in Mexico," (with D Luna-Pla and E Rodriguez). Public Choice,2003,116(1-2): 185-204.
B.2 European Single Market
"Trade and the Effect of Public Investment on Regional Inequalities in Heterogeneously Integrated Areas, " (with E Rodriguez). The World Economy, 2005, 26(6): 873-892.
"Is the impact of public investment neutral across the regional income distribution? Evidence from Mexico," (with E Rodriguez). Economic Geography, 2005, 81(3): 305-322.
"Pharmaceutical Parallel Trade in Europe: Impact on Stakeholders and Competition Effects,"(with P Kanavos). Economic Policy,2005, 20(44): 753-798.
"Spanish Regions and the Macroeconomic Benefits of the European Monetary Union," (with R Tremosa). Regional Studies, 37(3), 217-226
C. Social Economics
C.1 Identity and Social Environment
"Decomposing cross-country differences in levels of obesity and overweight: does the social environment matter? "(with J Gil, J and D Fabbri) Social Science and Medicine, 2010, 70 (8) : 1185–1193.
"Compulsory Language Educational Policies and Identity Formation" (with I Clots, O Aspachs and P Masella), Journal of the European Economic Association, 2008, 6(2-3): 434-444.
"Social interactions and the contemporaneous determinants of individuals' weight," (with J Gil). Applied Economics, 2004, 36(20): 2253-2263.
C.2 Altruism
"Does organ donation legislation affect individuals' willingness to donate their own or their relative's organs? Evidence from European Union survey data,"(with C Rudisill and E Mossialos). BMC Health Services Research, 2008, 8:48, 2008.
Perspective Articles
"Regional Single Currency Effects: Institutions or Geography?". Intereconomics, in press.
"Evaluating Mental Health Care and Policy in Spain" (with Luis Salvador-Carulla, J Cabases, David McDaid, J Alonso). Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 13(2): 73-86.
"Social capital and the social formation of health-related preferences and behaviours," (with Mladovsky, P). Health Economics, Policy and Law, 2009, 3(4): 413-427.
"The Limits to the Design of Long Term Care Insurance Schemes: the Spanish Experience in Comparative Research" (with M Font Vilalta). International Social Security Review, 2006, 59(4): 91-110.
" Why some people go private and others do not: supplementary health insurance in Spain," (with J Rovira). Public Finance and Management, 2005, 5(4), 523-543.
"The design of the long-term care system in Spain: policy and financial Constraints", (with C Patxot). Social Policy & Society, 2005, 4(1): 11-20.
"The Pharmaceutical Market Regulation in Spain Is Drug Cost-Containment under Question? ", (with J Puig). Journal of Pharmaceuticals Finance, Economics and Policy, 2004, 13 (4): 33-49.
Edited Books
Federalism and Decentralisation in Health and Social Care‖ (with Greer, S). Palgrave, 2011.
Long Term Care Financing in Europe: Institutions, Markets and Models‖ (with Courbage, C ). Palgrave , 2011.
Elgar Edward Handbook of Health Policy ―(with McGuire A), Elgar Edward, 2011
"Reforming Long Term care in Europe "published by Wiley/Blackwell, 2011.
"The Economics of New Health Technologies. Incentives, organisation and Financing", Oxford University Press, 2009(co-editor Courbage, C and McGuire, A).
Book Chapters
"Fiscal Federalism and Health Systems". In Federalism and Decentralisation in Health and Social Care" ( In Costa-Font, J and Greer, S, eds), Palgrave McMillan,2011.
"Decentralisation and the Spanish Health System". In Federalism and Decentralisation in Health and Social Care‖ (Costa-Font, J and Greer, S, eds),Palgrave McMillan, 2011.
"Choice in health care: drivers and consequences" (with Cooper, Z and Zigante, V).In Elgar Edward Handbook of Health Policy (Costa-Font, J and McGuire A, eds),Elgar Edward, 2011
"Do International Launch Strategies of Pharmaceutical Corporations Respond to Changes in the Regulatory Environment( with Varol, N and McGuire, A) In Elgar Edward Handbook of Health Policy (Costa-Font, J and McGuire A, ed), ElgarEdward, 2011
"Inequalities in Health: Why do we care? how do we care? What can we do about them? (with Cristina Hernandez). In Elgar Edward Handbook ofHealth Policy (with McGuire A), Elgar Edward, 2011
Long Term Care: Partnership or Crowding Out?‖ (with Courbage, C). In Long Term Care Financing in Europe: Institutions, Markets and Models (Costa-Font, J and Courbage, C eds). Palgrave, 2011.
Financing and Provision of Long Term Care in South West Europe‖ (with S. Santana and Gori, C). In Long Term Care Financing in Europe: Institutions, Markets and Models (Costa-Font, J and Courbage, C eds). Pagrave, 2011.
"Housing markets, Wealth and Self-Insurance in Spain" (with Joan Gil and Oscar Mascarilla). In Smith, S.J and Searle, B (eds). The Blackwell Companion to the Economics of Housing. Blackwell publishing, 2009.
"Knowledge, technology and demand for online health information" (with Caroline Rudisill and Elias Mossialos). In Costa-Font, J, Courbage, C and McGuire, A (eds). pp 109-124 The Economics of New Health Technologies. Oxford University Press, 2009.
"Health Insurance and the uptake of new drugs in the United States" (with Victoria Serra and Marin Gemmill). In Costa-Font, J, Courbage, C and McGuire, A (eds). pp259-274 The Economics of New Health Technologies. Oxford University Press, 2009.
"Which Policies enable Smoking Cessation" (with E Mossialos). In Cholewka, P and Motlagh, M(eds). Health Capital and Sustainable Socioeconomic Development. pp 379-404, Taylor & Francis, 2008.
"Dealing with Health care Security" (with M Costa, J Rovira, R Rodríguez and P Sandiford). In Cholewka, P and Motlagh, M(eds). Health Capital and Sustainable Socioeconomic Development. pp 405-418, Taylor & Francis, 2008.
"Pricing And Reimbursement Policies in Spain: Current and Future Trends" In Garau, M and Mestre, J (ed) European Medicines Pricing and Reimbursement.Now and the future. Radcliffe, London, 2006.
"Public perceptions, ambivalence and the endogenous regulation of biotechnology in the UK" (with E Mossialos). In C. Sausman and S. Dawson (eds) Future of Health Organizations, Palgrave, MacMillan, 2006.
Editorials & Commentaries
"Introduction to the Economics of Ageing" (with J LFernandez), Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 2010.
"Long term Care in Europe: searching for almost ideal organisational models and feasible financing schemes". Social Policy & Administration, 2010, 44(4): 357–358
"Decentralization, welfare and social citizenship in contemporary democracies"(with Banting, K). Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 2010, 28(3) 381– 388
"Innovation and health: pathways to new technologies" (with CCourbage and Andrea Mina). Economics of Innovation and New Technologies,2009,18(5): 403 –406.
"Social Capital and the Social formation of health related preferences and behaviours." (with P Mladovsky). Health Economics, Policy & Law, 2008, 3(4):413–427.
"On Risk, Attitudes and Behaviour". Risk Management, 2008, 10(3): 153-155.
"On Health, Ageing and Insurance", (with C Courbage). Geneva Papers Risk and Insurance, 2006,31(4):551-556.
Selected publications (in other languages)
"A quien beneficia el comercio paralelo de medicamentos en la Unión Europea?"" (with P Kanavos). El Trimestre Económico, 2009, 76(2):331-347
"Una Exploración de las Desigualdades Socioeconómicas en Morbilidad en España" (with J Gil). Cuadernos Económicos de ICE, 2008, 75(1): 43-63
"Importaciones paralelas de medicamentos: El caso de la Simvastaina en Alemania, Holanda y el Reino Unido," (with P Kanavos). Gaceta Sanitaria, 2007, 21(1): 53-59.
"Riquesa Immobiliària i de Finançament de la Dependència a Catalunya," (with O Masacarilla). Nota d'Economia, 2006, 85: 81-93
"Participación pública y revelación de preferencias sobre programas sanitarios: un enfoque de sistema sanitario". Gaceta Sanitaria, 2005, 19(3):242-252.
"Establecimiento de prioridades, participación colectiva y decisión publica en sanidad". Información Comercial Española, Revista de Economía, 2003, 804: 141-155.
"Cautividad y demanda de seguros sanitarios privados," (with J Garcia). Cuadernos Económicos de ICE, 2002, 55: 71-88
"Establecimiento de prioridades, opinión pública y sistema sanitario en España" Gaceta Sanitaria, 2001, 15(3): 237-244.
"Implicaciones controvertidas en la aplicación de los años de vida ajustados por calidad," (with R Rodríguez). Hacienda Pública Española, 2000, 153 (2): 31-44
"Ampliación hacia el Este y Unión Monetaria," (with J Batalla). Cuadernos Europeos de Deusto, 1999, 20: 23-39.
"Qué influencia ejerce el "país líder" en la formación de un área monetaria? El caso del Este asiático" (with J Batalla and J Pons). Información Comercial Española, Revista de Economía, 1999, 782: 127-137, 1999.
Book reviews
"State and Health Care‖ West European Politics in press"
"Territory, Democracy and Justice", Regional Studies, 2010, 44(1): 135-135.
"The Politics of European Union Health Policies", Journal of European Social Policy, 2010, 20(2): 170.
"Scaling up health service delivery". International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 2009, 24(4): 366-7.
"Análisis económico de la financiación pública de medicamentos". Gaceta Sanitaria, 2003, 17 (1): 83.
Book Prologues
"Catalonia: An Emergent Economy" Authored by Ramon Tremosa, Sussex Press.
Links
Full publication list as well on LSE Research Online