EC326-15 Industrial Economics 2: Strategy & Planning

Department: Economics
Level: Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader: Andrew Harkins
Credit value: 15
Module duration: 10 weeks
Assessment: 100% exam
Study location: University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

Module aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to more advanced topics in the modern theory of industrial organisation, and to expose students to the more advanced industrial organisation theory and modelling.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module studies various ways in which firms strategically interact in markets. The main topics may include:

Multi-Market Monopoly. Learning-by-doing, good will and introductory offers, externalities between markets (e.g., use in home market of software raises value in office markets, piracy.
Dynamic competition of the monopolist against himself (e.g., durable goods monopoly, quality provision).
Product Differentiation and Advertising.
Network effects and Two sided Platforms
Entry deterrence, Accommodation and Exit
Applications of Behavioural Economics to Industrial Organization
Information and Reputation in Markets

However, the module leader may add additional topics and sub-topics within the scope set out by the aims and learning outcomes of the module and subject to the approval of the department.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

Subject knowledge and understanding:...demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to formulate, model and analyse issues in industrial organisation. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, guided reading and independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.
Subject knowledge and understanding:...demonstrate knowledge and understanding of advanced industrial organisation theory and modelling. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, guided reading and independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.
Subject knowledge and understanding:...demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Economic Principles and core concepts and methods in micro and macroeconomics. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, guided reading and independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.
Subject knowledge and understanding:...demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research issues and familiarity with contemporary empirical debates and latest research in industrial economics. Understanding of 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, guided reading and independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.
Cognitive skills:...demonstrate capacity of analytical thinking, reasoning and application. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, guided reading and independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.
Cognitive skills:...demonstrate capacity of critical, creative and strategic thinking. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, guided reading and independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.
Cognitive skills:...demonstrate capacity of abstraction and problem solving. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, guided reading and independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.
Cognitive skills:...demonstrate capacity of applying critical analysis to the topics of the module, formulating concepts and hypotheses, and showing how they are tested in relevant literature. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, guided reading and independent study. The summative assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exam.

Indicative reading list

Please see Talis Aspire link for most up to date list.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in:
Analytical thinking and communication
Analytical reasoning
Critical thinking
Strategic thinking
Problem-solving
Policy evaluation
Analysis of incentives
Analysis of optimisation
Understanding of Uncertainty and Incomplete Information

Transferable skills

Students will have the opportunity to develop:
Numeracy and quantitative skills
Written communication skills
Oral communication skills
Mathematical, statistical and data-based research skills

Study time

Type	Required
Lectures	20 sessions of 1 hour (13%)
Seminars	4 sessions of 1 hour (3%)
Private study	126 hours (84%)
Total	150 hours

Private study description

Private study will be required in order to prepare for seminars/classes, to review lecture notes, to prepare for forthcoming assessments, tests, and exams, and to undertake wider reading around the subject.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group B2

	Weighting	Study time
Online Examination	100%
A paper which examines the course content and ensures learning outcomes are achieved. ~Platforms - AEP Answerbook provided by department Students may use a calculator

Feedback on assessment

The Department of Economics is committed to providing high quality and timely feedback to students on their assessed work, to enable them to review and continuously improve their work. We are dedicated to ensuring feedback is returned to students within 20 University working days of their assessment deadline. Feedback for assignments is returned either on a standardised assessment feedback cover sheet which gives information both by tick boxes and by free comments or via free text comments on Tabula, together with the annotated assignment. For tests and problem sets, students receive solutions as an important form of feedback and their marked assignment, with a breakdown of marks and comments by question and sub-question. Students are informed how to access their feedback, either by collecting from the Undergraduate Office or via tabula. Module leaders provide generic feedback for the cohort outlining what was done well, less well, and what was expected on the assignment and any other common themes. This feedback also includes a cumulative distribution function with summary statistics so students can review their performance in relation to the cohort. This feedback is in addition to the individual-specific feedback on assessment performance.

Past exam papers for EC326

Pre-requisites

Any of:
EC202-30 Microeconomics 2 OR
EC204-30 Economics 2 OR
EC238-15 Economics 2: Microeconomics

EC202 (with EC208 and EC231 desirable) or EC204 (with EC208 and EC231 desirable). EC231 and EC208 are recommended though not a formal pre-requisite. For those without EC231 or EC208, it is recommended that material covered in the EC208 and EC231 syllabus is the basis for private study during the summer vacation.

To take this module, you must have passed:

Any of

Courses

This module is Core for:

UECA-3 Undergraduate Economics 3 Year Variants
- Year 3 of L116 Economics and Industrial Organization
- Year 3 of L116 Economics and Industrial Organization
Year 4 of UECA-4 Undergraduate Economics 4 Year Variants

This module is Optional for:

TECA-L1PA Postgraduate Taught Economics (Diploma plus MSc)
- Year 1 of L1PA Economics (Diploma plus MSc)
- Year 1 of L1PA Economics (Diploma plus MSc)
- Year 2 of L1PA Economics (Diploma plus MSc)
- Year 2 of L1PA Economics (Diploma plus MSc)
UECA-3 Undergraduate Economics 3 Year Variants
- Year 3 of L100 Economics
- Year 3 of L100 Economics
- Year 3 of L100 Economics
UECA-4 Undergraduate Economics 4 Year Variants
- Year 4 of LV16 Economics & Economic History with Study Abroad
- Year 4 of L103 Economics with Study Abroad
- Year 4 of LM1H Economics, Politics & International Studies with Study Abroad
- Year 4 of LM1H Economics, Politics & International Studies with Study Abroad
UECA-LM1D Undergraduate Economics, Politics and International Studies
- Year 3 of LM1D Economics, Politics and International Studies
- Year 3 of LM1D Economics, Politics and International Studies
USTA-G300 Undergraduate Master of Mathematics,Operational Research,Statistics and Economics
- Year 3 of G300 Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics
- Year 4 of G300 Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics
Year 3 of UMAA-GL11 Undergraduate Mathematics and Economics
Year 4 of UECA-GL12 Undergraduate Mathematics and Economics (with Intercalated Year)
UPHA-V7MM Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (with Intercalated year)
- Year 4 of V7MQ Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Bipartite) with Intercalated Year
- Year 4 of V7MH Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Economics/Philosophy Bipartite (Economics Major) (with Intercalated year)
- Year 4 of V7MF Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Economics/Politics Bipartite (Economics Major) (with Intercalated year)
- Year 4 of V7MI Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Philosophy/Economics Bipartite (Philosophy Major) (with Intercalated year)
- Year 4 of V7MJ Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Philosophy/Politics Bipartite (with Intercalated year)
- Year 4 of V7MG Philosophy, Politics and Economics - Politics/Economics Bipartite (Politics Major) (with Intercalated year)

This module is Option list B for:

USTA-Y602 Undergraduate Mathematics,Operational Research,Statistics and Economics
- Year 3 of Y602 Mathematics,Operational Research,Stats,Economics
- Year 3 of Y602 Mathematics,Operational Research,Stats,Economics
Year 4 of USTA-Y603 Undergraduate Mathematics,Operational Research,Statistics,Economics (with Intercalated Year)