Intro Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread. What does this have to do with economics? People change their behavior in response to the possibility of illness Understanding this phenomenon is critical to measuring the costs of an epidemic and designing policies to limit disease spread Bhattacharya,Hyde and Tu-HealthEconomicsBhattacharya, Hyde and Tu – Health Economics Intro  Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread.  What does this have to do with economics?  People change their behavior in response to the possibility of illness  Understanding this phenomenon is critical to measuring the costs of an epidemic and designing policies to limit disease spread