Optimize health professional education for universal health coverage. This World Bank study explores the economic forces shaping health workforce development, offering insights for policymakers and administrators. The Economics of Health Professional Education and Careers examines the influence of market dynamics on training, career choices, and workforce imbalances. It addresses critical questions: - What are the global trends in health professions? - How do these trends affect career decisions? - What is the value of different types of health professional education? For healthcare policymakers, health economists, and researchers, this study provides recommendations to align market forces with universal health coverage goals. Authors Barbara McPake, Allison Squires, Agya Mahat, and Edson C. Araujo offer a comprehensive literature review to support evidence-based policy design.