Unit name | Industrial Economics |
---|---|
Unit code | ECON30076 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Dr. Maija Halonen-Akatwijuka |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Intermediate Microeconomics ECON21133 |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Economics |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This course examines strategic interactions between firms and the determinants of industrial structure. The first part of the unit is theoretical. It concentrates on the analysis of various aspects of oligopolistic industries, including collusion, vertical relationships, networks and entry. The unit also examines the need to constrain firms behaviour by competition policy. Furthermore, students apply economic theory to case studies in e.g. vertical restraints in the European car industry and the battle between Blu-Ray and HD DVD.
The second part of the course will cover empirical industrial economics, focusing on i) competition policy analysis and ii) understanding firm performance. The topics to be covered include market definition, measuring market power, mergers, vertical integration and vertical restraints, product market competition and productivity, and R&D. The unit will enable students to apply economic theory to practical policy questions and will be of particular interest to those thinking of a career in economic consultancy, management consultancy or the government economic service.
Lectures and tutorials
Formative assessment: 2 2000 word essays assesses intended learning outcomes 1-4.
Summative assessment: 3-hour written exam assesses intended learning outcomes 1-4.
Pepall, Richards and Norman (2008) Industrial Organization: Contemporary Theory and Empirical Applications (Blackwell)
Journal articles