Top 10 Health Economics Journals

Need to get your hands on the latest research and perspectives in health economics but not sure where to look? Well, we have done the legwork for you.

Here you will find the top 10 Health Economics journals ranked by the 2-year Journal Impact Factor (2-JIF) – a measure of the frequency with which the articles within the journal are cited in a particular 2-year period. We have also included these other factors for each journal in our assessment to round off the picture.

Journal Metrics

Impact factor*

The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is based on Web of Science data and only includes documents such as articles and reviews. The JIF helps to understand the importance of how often articles are cited by addressing the bias that arises from comparing citation numbers. This bias tends to advantage bigger journals over smaller ones, those published more often over those with fewer issues, and older journals over newer ones. This is because larger or older journals usually have more articles to be cited. By considering the impact factor, we can more fairly compare journals by taking into account these differences in size, publication frequency, and age. A JIF of 3 or more is considered good and 1 is average.

CiteScore*

CiteScore is based on Scopus data for all indexed documents, including articles, letters and editorials, as well as articles and reviews. The CiteScore for a particular year is calculated by dividing the number of citations to all indexed documents within the journal from that year and the three preceding years by the total number of documents published in the journal within that same period.

*Impact factor and CiteScore have the most meaning when used to compare journals within the same therapeutic area. Many academics value a journal’s Impact Factor over its Citescore; therefore they will use the impact factor to rank other journals in the same field.

SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)

The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) indicator evaluates the prestige of academic journals by considering not only the number of citations a journal receives but also the prestige of the journals that issue these citations. An SJR >1.0 is above average. This measurement can be helpful to rank journals within the same field and category.

Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP)

Source Normalised Impact per Paper (SNIP) weights citations based on the total number of citations in a subject field to provide a contextual, subject-specific metric. A SNIP over 1.0 means a journal has more citations than average.

Other Journal considerations

In addition to SJR ranking and journal impact factor, a good quality journal generally has the following characteristics:

1. It is indexed on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science or another reputable journal index.
2. It has an up-to-date website, a clear scope, extensive information for authors and readers, and a publicly visible editorial board consisting of appropriately qualified board members affiliated with accredited universities and research institutions.
3. Each article is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

Top 10 Health Economics Journals

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Health Affairs

Health Affairs is a popular, multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal that is highly ranked among its peers in terms of prestige and influence. This journal has a special interest in major domestic and international health policy issues that concern both the public and private sector and as a result, it offers a diverse and unique perspective from all aspects of the healthcare industry – industry, labour, government and academia.

• Website: https://www.healthaffairs.org/journal/hlthaff
• Impact Factor: 9.7
• CiteScore: 11.9
• SJR: 3.501
• SNIP: 3.231
• H-Index: 199

Social Science and Medicine

Social Science and Medicine is an international forum for the distribution of research in health and social science. This journal combines both theoretical and experimental research and draws on multiple social science disciplines including economics, epidemiology and policy.

• Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/social-science-and-medicine
• Impact Factor: 5.4
• CiteScore: 7.9
• SJR: 1.978
• SNIP: 1.962
• H-Index: 270

Value in Health

Value in Health is another highly respected health economics journal. As the official journal for the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, this multidisciplinary forum guides healthcare decision-makers in resource allocation using outcomes research and articles across all aspects of pharmacoeconomics.

• Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/value-in-health
• Impact Factor: 4.5
• CiteScore: 6.7
• SJR: 1.414
• SNIP: 1.737
• H-Index: 124

PharmacoEconomics

PharmacoEconomics is a leading journal that publishes peer-reviewed, authoritative articles on the practical application of pharmacoeconomics and quality of life assessment. PharmacoEconomics has an impact factor of 4.4 and is an invaluable source of information for healthcare policymakers.

• Website: https://link.springer.com/journal/40273
• Impact Factor: 4.4
• CiteScore: 7.8
• SJR: 1.389
• SNIP: 1.873
• H-Index: 112

European Journal of Health Economics

The European Journal of Health Economics is focused on health economics, offering insights into economic outcomes, policies, and interventions in healthcare. It covers topics like cost-effectiveness analysis, healthcare systems, and quality-of-life studies. The journal publishes research articles, reviews, and methodological papers, serving economists, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. It aims to advance knowledge and support evidence-based decision-making in healthcare economics.

• Website: https://link.springer.com/journal/10198
• Impact Factor: 4.4
• CiteScore: 6.3
• SJR: 1.042
• SNIP: 1.675
• H-Index: 63

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy is a journal focusing on the economic aspects and policy decisions in healthcare. It offers articles on cost-effectiveness, health technology assessments, and policy evaluations, aiming to support evidence-based health policy and practice. The journal targets health economists, policymakers, and professionals, enhancing decision-making in healthcare through economic and policy analysis.

• Website: https://link.springer.com/journal/40258
• Impact Factor: 3.6
• CiteScore: 5.6
• SJR: 1.017
• SNIP: 1.156
• H-Index: 49

Journal of Health Economics

The Journal of Health Economics publishes research on the production, supply, demand and utilisation of health services. The journal aims to contribute to the understanding and analysis of health economics issues, supporting informed policy and healthcare decisions. It is intended for economists, healthcare policymakers, and professionals interested in the intersection of economics and healthcare, providing insights to improve health outcomes and efficiency.

• Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-health-economics
• Impact Factor: 3.5
• CiteScore: 5.5
• SJR: 2.083
• SNIP: 1.741
• H-Index: 141

American Journal of Health Economics

The American Journal of Health Economics focuses on the study of economics and its impact on health and healthcare systems. It addresses a broad range of topics including healthcare policy, insurance, and the economics of health behaviours and outcomes. The journal aims to foster understanding and debate among economists, healthcare professionals, and policymakers by publishing high-quality research that explores how economic forces influence healthcare and public health. It serves as a key resource for those seeking to improve healthcare delivery and policy through economic analysis and evidence-based approaches.

• Website: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/ajhe/current
• Impact Factor: 3.7
• CiteScore: 3.9
• SJR: 1.541
• SNIP: 1.321
• H-Index: 18

Medical Care

Medical Care is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on the organisation, delivery, and financing of healthcare. Medical Care is the official journal of the Medical Care Section of the American Public Health Association. It covers a wide range of topics, including access to care, healthcare costs, outcomes, and health policy and reform. The journal aims to provide a forum for the dissemination of research findings to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers, to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare services.

• Website: https://journals.lww.com/lww-medicalcare/pages/default.aspx
• Impact Factor: 3.0
• CiteScore: 5.1
• SJR: 1.293
• SNIP: 1.327
• H-Index: 195

Health Economics

Health Economics is a journal focused on the economic dimensions of health and healthcare. It covers healthcare systems, health behaviours, and the evaluation of health interventions. Targeting researchers, policymakers, and professionals, it aims to contribute to the understanding and efficiency of health care through economic analysis.

• Website: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10991050
• Impact Factor: 2.1
• CiteScore: 3.5
• SJR: 1.032
• SNIP: 1.006
• H-Index: 123

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How to Stay Up-to-Date with Health Economics Research Developments

For pharma professionals and researchers working in the field of Health Economics, it is vital to stay abreast of the latest research advancements. To stay on top you might:

• Consider subscribing to our newsletter and receive updates to our top journal lists as well as other relevant industry and therapeutic developments as they happen.
• Register for an account with your selected journal to get direct access to new research as it's published.
• Customise an RSS feed for your selected journals to also further streamline the process, delivering the latest papers and articles directly to your digital doorstep.
• Setting up a Google alert with Health Economics research keywords to capture relevant news and studies from across the web.
• Lastly, don't underestimate the power of social media; by following the publishers and journals in the field, you'll tap into a community of shared knowledge and discourse.

* Article originally written by Emma Donadieu and published in 2020, updated by Beth Howe and the Rx Team for 2024!