EC134: Topics in Macro and International Economics

Claudia Rei
Module Leader

15 CATS - Department of Economics

Introduction

This module provides an introduction to a set of applied economics topics, which are not systematically covered in other core or optional modules. It allows students to gain insight into how the abstract principles of economic theory and econometric analysis can be applied to various specific contexts. The topics covered reflect the varying interests of teaching staff and may change each year.

Principal Aims

The module aims to provide students with an opportunity to study a variety of topics drawn from the broad field of applied economics. Already the Department offers a wide range of choice of modules in the second and final years of study, and we want to improve the choice of optional modules offered to our first year students. The width of the discipline implies that in any one year there will be some specialist fields of Economics which are not covered in the menu of core and optional modules; this module seeks to provide exposure to some of these fields. A complementary aim is to offer a module in which first year students can benefit from teaching delivered by leading researchers in the specialist field. Each year, the topics covered within the module are likely to change to reflect the heterogeneity of specialist research interests of teaching staff, the changing issues within the discipline and the changing topics taught elsewhere within the Economics degree programmes.

Principal Learning Outcomes

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:…demonstrate a familiarity with knowledge and basic understanding of economic principles; core concepts and methods in micro and macroeconomics.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:…demonstrate a familiarity with knowledge and basic understanding of: Economic information: specific economic trends and patterns; understanding of particular problems and solutions in economic measurement.

Subject-specific and Professional Key General Skills:…demonstrate a basic understanding of research skills such as: Data skills: Use of library and internet as information sources; knowledge of how to locate relevant data, extract appropriate data, analyse and present material.

Subject-specific and Professional Key General Skills:…demonstrate a basic understanding of research skills such as: Mathematical/Statistical skills: use/application of mathematics and diagrams in economic analysis; understanding of statistical analysis of data.

Subject-specific and Professional Key General Skills:…demonstrate a basic understanding of research skills such as: Written communication skills.

Cognitive Skills:…demonstrate capacity of policy evaluation and the analysis of institutions.

Subject Knowledge and Understanding:…demonstrate a familiarity with knowledge and basic understanding of research issues; familiarity with contemporary empirical debates and latest research in some specialized areas of economics; understanding of how to approach an economic problem from the perspective of a contemporary researcher in economics.

Cognitive Skills:…demonstrate capacity of analytical thinking, reasoning and application.

Cognitive Skills:…demonstrate capacity of abstraction and problem solving.

Syllabus

The syllabus each year will cover up to three topics selected from within the broad area of ‘Applied Economics’. The selection will be drawn from all sub-fields within the discipline, including labour, industrial, development, trade, behavioural, experimental, financial, public, health, education, history, environmental, ethics, philosophy, happiness, and auctions. This list will expand as reflecting staff interests. In years in which other first year 15 CATS optional modules do not run, one possibility will be to compress them into topics within this module. In selecting topics, the main criteria will include:

(i) scope for the topic to provide a context in which, through application, students can begin to develop their understanding of key concepts in economics and applied economics,

(ii) importance of the topic within the general field of Economics,

(iii) policy relevance of the topic,

(iv) complementing topics covered elsewhere within the degree programmes.

Context

Optional Module: L100 - Year 1, L116 - Year 1, LM1D (LLD2) - Year 1, V7ML - Year 1, LA99 - Year 1, R9L1 - Year 1, R3L4 - Year 1, R4L1 - Year 1, R2L4 - Year 1, R1L4 - Year 1, L1CA - Year 1, R2L5 - Year 1, R4LA - Year 1, R1L5 - Year 1
Pre or Co-requisites: Co-requisite module: EC122 or EC124 and EC139 or EC140

Assessment

Assessment Method: Centrally-timetabled examination (On-campus) (100%)
Coursework Details: Centrally-timetabled examination (On-campus) (100%)
Exam Timing: Summer