EC235: Topics in Applied Economics (2a)
Abhinay Muthoo
Module Leader
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, but 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 second 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
Cognitive Skills:...demonstrate an established capacity of: Analytical thinking, reasoning and application. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Subject-specific and Professional Key General Skills:...demonstrate an aptitude for the following skills such as: Mathematical/Statistical skills: use/application of mathematics and diagrams in economic analysis; understanding of statistical analysis of data. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Subject-specific and Professional Key General Skills:...demonstrate an aptitude for the following skills such as: Written communication skills. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate a solid knowledge and understanding of: Economic Principles: Knowledge and understanding of core concepts and methods in micro and macroeconomics. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate a solid knowledge and understanding of: Applied Economics: Knowledge and understanding of standard economic models and quantitative techniques with application to contemporary problems arising in public policy and the private sector. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate a solid knowledge and understanding of: Economic information: a well-developed understanding of specific economic trends and patterns; analysis of particular problems and solutions in economic measurement. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate a solid knowledge and understanding of: Research issues: Familiarity with contemporary empirical debates and latest research in some specialized areas of economics. Evaluate how to approach an economic problem from the perspective of a contemporary researcher in economics. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Cognitive Skills:...demonstrate an established capacity of: Critical, creative and strategic thinking. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Cognitive Skills:...demonstrate an established capacity of: Abstraction and Problem solving. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
Cognitive Skills:...demonstrate an established capacity of: Policy evaluation and the analysis of institutions. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures and guided reading. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Examination.
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 but not limited to labour, industrial, development, trade, behavioural, experimental, financial, public, health, education, strategic decision making and game theory, history, environmental, ethics, philosophy, happiness, and auctions. This list will expand and vary, 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 econometrics,
(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
- V7ML - Year 2, L1L8 - Year 2, LA99 - Year 2, L1CA - Year 2
- Pre or Co-requisites
- EC107 or EC108 and EC109 or EC204 as co-requisite Plus EC120
Assessment
- Assessment Method
- Online Examination (100%)
- Coursework Details
- Online Examination (100%)
- Exam Timing
- Summer
Exam Rubric
Time Allowed: 2 Hours plus 15 minutes reading time during which notes may be made (on the question paper) BUT NO ANSWERS MAY BE BEGUN.
Answer FOUR questions, including TWO short-answer questions (15 marks each) and TWO long-answer questions (35 marks each). You must answer AT LEAST ONE question from EACH section.
Answer Section A questions in one booklet, Section B questions in a separate booklet; and Section C questions in a separate booklet.
Approved pocket calculators are allowed.
Read carefully the instructions on the answer book provided and make sure that the particulars required are entered on each answer book. If you answer more questions than are required and do not indicate which answers should be ignored, we will mark the requisite number of answers in the order in which they appear in the answer book(s): answers beyond that number will not be considered.
Previous exam papers can be found in the University’s past papers archive. Please note that previous exam papers may not have operated under the same exam rubric or assessment weightings as those for the current academic year. The content of past papers may also be different.