Unit information: Applied Economics: Current Economic Problems in 2019/20

Unit name	Applied Economics: Current Economic Problems
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

Description including Unit Aims

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:

• To get students to bring together the multi-faceted skills expected of an economist (quantitative, qualitative, rhetorical, etc.) to address a contemporary question.

• To provide students with practice in analysis and synthesis of economic methods.

• To allow students to study select topics in depth and detail.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Apply economic theoretical techniques to concrete economic questions.
2. Describe and summarise material from a range of sources.
3. Evaluate differing and possibly contradictory theories and sources of information.
4. Combine (1), (2) and (3) in a holistic way.

Teaching Information

• 18 Lectures

• 8 classes

Formative assessment

Students will prepare an essay plan ahead of their first submission of essay.

Assessment Information

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.

Reading and References

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).