Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
---|---|---|
Semester Exam | 2 Hours Unseen written examination | 80% |
Semester Assessment | Coursework 1: 1500 word essay | 10% |
Semester Assessment | Coursework 2: 1500 word essay | 10% |
Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Unseen written examination | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
* List and describe the main economic institutions in the UK, the EU and internationally, describe and explain their operations;
* Link economic policy practice to key textbook economic concepts;
* Evaluate debates about the impacts of policies on economic performance;
* Assess the impact of globalisation on the autonomy of national economic policy;
* Analyse the main constraints under which economic policy operates and apply evaluative techniques to some major economic policy interventions in market and macroeconomic functioning.
Aims
The module aims to provide participants with an introduction to topical issues in economic policy making and to provide linkages to the economic theories on which it is based.
Brief description
This module examines microeconomic, macroeconomic, environmental and international economic policies in respect of the British and EU economies. It explores the nature of the policy making process through examples which include competition policy, inflation control, employment and migration, income distribution, public finance, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and regional development
Content
- Role of the state in neoclassical economics
- Institutionalist perspectives on markets
- Public choice theory
- Competition, mergers and acquisitions
- Privatisation and regulation
- Corporate governance and social responsibility
- Income distribution and inequality
- Valuing the environment
- Market-based and non-market-based incentives
- Climate change and carbon emissions policy
- Multi-level governance
- Finance and the EU budget
- Policy areas
- Economic and monetary union
- Public expenditure and taxation
- Money and monetary policy
- Financial institutions and markets
- Inflation and unemployment
- Global economic management
- Growth, development and global equity
- Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and sovereign debt
Module Skills
Skills Type | Skills details |
---|---|
Application of Number | |
Communication | Participation in discussion-based tutorial classes will enhance the verbal communication skills of the participants. Written communication proficiency will also improve as a result of the compulsory coursework component of the module. |
Improving own Learning and Performance | Writing coursework to deadlines will improve self-management, prioritisation, setting of targets and planning how to achieve them. Providing two opportunities to present coursework and gain feedback will allow students to review progress, and judge performance and understand where any need to improve should be addressed. |
Information Technology | IT skills of students will be enhanced because this module requires them to consult the websites of economic policy institutions, such as the Bank of England, the Competition and Markets Authority, Natural England, and Europa. Information and data will also need to be presented effectively for analysis in coursework. |
Personal Development and Career planning | The module will provide the students with an opportunity to focus on the area in which most vocational economists work. Completion of the module would provide a good foundation for Year in Employment Scheme placements suitable for economics students. |
Problem solving | This module will introduce students to real-world policy trade-offs, identify potential solutions and explore the decision-making process the check the reliability of their problem-solving activities. |
Research skills | This module will facilitate students’ exposure to online institutional and media sources relevant to the policy-making process. These will be required in the planning of written coursework assignments and in preparation for tutorial classes. |
Subject Specific Skills | Policy analysis and evaluation tools. |
Team work |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4