Mechanisms of Legal Effect: Perspectives from Economics

Economic principles have historically been used in public health policy to drive individual and organizational behaviors. Price modification through the use of taxes, fees and subsidies has been employed by policymakers to modify health behaviors from tobacco and alcohol consumption to diet. Economic levers have also been used to modify organizational practices to promote public health. The presentation will review key concepts drawn from economic theory, and provide examples from existing research on the impact of economic interventions in shaping environments and influencing behaviors that then affect population health.