Amanda Starc, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the Kellogg School of Management and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). She received her BA in Economics from Case Western Reserve University, and her PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University. Dr. Starc's research interests include industrial organization and health economics.

Her research examines the Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Supplement ("Medigap") markets, as well as consumer behavior in insurance exchanges. Recent work measures the effectiveness of direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceuticals. Her work links models of consumer choice and supply side incentives, and uses a range of econometric techniques to analyze data.

Health Economics and Industrial Organization

• Doctor of Philosophy, 2011, Business Economics, Harvard University
• Bachelor of Arts, 2006, Economics, Case Western Reserve University, Summa Cum Laude

• Associate Professor of Strategy, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
• Assistant Professor of Health Care Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1/1/2016

• Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2016

• NSF Grant for "Mortality Effects of Health Insurance Networks and Providers"
• NIHCM Research Award, National Institute of Health Care Management

• Associate Editor, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2023
• Associate Editor, Journal of Political Economy: Microeconomics, 2022
• Editorial Board, Journal of Risk and Insurance, 2019
• Associate Editor, Journal of Health Economics, 2019

Health Economics, Firm Strategy

Research in Economics (MECS-560-3)
This course introduces first-year PhD students to the economics research environment. With an emphasis on breadth, and minimal prerequisite knowledge at the graduate level, students are exposed to the process of forming and answering research questions. The course involves multiple faculty providing their perspective on successful approaches to research by highlighting significant recent works in their respective fields of interest.

Business Strategy (STRT-431-0)
Strategy is the set of objectives, policies and resource commitments that collectively determine how a business positions itself to create wealth for its owners. This course introduces students to principles and conceptual frameworks for evaluating and formulating business strategy. Topics include the boundaries of the firm, the analysis of industry economics, strategic positioning and competitive advantage, and the role of resources and capabilities in shaping and sustaining competitive advantages.

Using Analytics to Create and Capture Value in Healthcare (HCAK-941-5)
This course is for managers who want to better understand empirical arguments in the healthcare industry. Students will become familiar with basic tools of modern data science through hands-on experience and will learn how to use analytics and data to address decisions faced by healthcare firms. Data-driven analyses require going beyond statistically significant relationships to assess cause and effect. This course extends regression analysis to answer causal questions. The most important tool we will develop is the ability to be a good consumer of arguments made with data. Within healthcare, firms frequently make claims about the impact of various initiatives. In this course, we will spend substantial time evaluating those claims. Will value-based care lower costs? Will firms be able to capture some of the incremental value created? Will investing in quality improve outcomes or firm profits? Will advertising increase firm profits?