Unit name | Applied Economics: Current Economic Problems |
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Unit code | ECON30065 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Proud |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Intermediate Economics 1 (EFIM20008) and either Econometrics (EFIM20011) or Applied Quantitative Research Methods (EFIM20010) |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Economics |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit considers various economic topics of contemporary interest, with an emphasis on the UK economy and UK economic policy. There would typically be about six topics and about two of these would change every year: there will be a mix of macroeconomic and microeconomic topics. You will be expected to study all six topics in the unit but will not have to study each one in the same level of detail: instead you should concentrate on three topics to study in depth.
The unit requires you to use economic theoretical concepts learned in the first two years of the degree to analyse current questions from the perspective of an economist. In all cases you will need to use the econometrics skills learned in the second year to analye and evaluate empirical studies. Questions are usually multi-faceted so you will also need to compare and evaluate a range of different opinions using different sources.
Unit aims:
Formative assessment
Students will prepare an essay plan ahead of their first submission of essay.
Summative assessment:
2 x 2000 word essays (1 in each half of teaching block) (67%)
1 hour 15 minute examination in January (33%)
Each assessment assesses all of the learning outcomes.
The reading material changes with the topic. For any topic students would not be expected to use a textbook but to synthesise material from a range of sources (books, articles in learned journals, discussion papers, government publications).