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Since December 1st till March 31 you can apply to our programs:
Master in Economic Research and PhD in Economics

Entry requirements are:
- BA / MA degree or equivalent
- Proficiency in spoken and written English
- Solid background in mathematics
- Previous education in economics is recommended

Your online application must content following documents:
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of motivation
- Copies of your diplomas and transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency level
- Contact details for two (or max. three) referees (optional for MA applicants)

For more information please see sections: How to apply to MER or How to apply to PhD
In case of any question, please do not hesitate to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or see the FAQ sections for Master´s or Phd program.

Lea Bignon, MSc.

Toulouse School of Economics, France

Abstract: Digital health technologies, such as Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), are transforming the availability of patient-level data, potentially influencing healthcare markets more broadly. This paper examines how CGMs influence the insulin market, shedding light on the impact of digital health technologies on pharmaceutical demand, pricing, and innovation incentives. I develop and estimate a tractable model of supply and demand for insulin, embedding: (i) patient-specific learning about treatment performance through the digital device, (ii) physician-level learning about new insulin products based on patient experiences, and (iii) price bargaining by pharmaceutical companies and the regulator, both internalizing demand-side learning. Using comprehensive medical claims data from France, where expanded CGM coverage boosted technology adoption, I find that CGMs’ patient-specific information steered insulin demand toward newer products, with limited information spillover to non-users. Manufacturers of drugs that benefited from higher perceived quality, thanks to the observability of these attributes, could negotiate higher drug prices. My findings indicate that the introduction of these new observable attributes into pharmaceutical demand can shift the relative profitability of drug innovation strategies, thereby shaping future pharmaceutical innovation.

Full Text: Pharmaceuticals and Digital Health: How Data-driven Insights May Reshape the Insulin Market