Introductory description

This module provides students with an opportunity to study a variety of topics drawn from the broad field of applied economics and exposes students to teaching delivered by leading researchers in specialist fields of economics.

Module web page

Module aims

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.

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 labour, industrial, development, trade, behavioural, experimental, financial, public, health, education, history, environmental, ethics, philosophy, happiness, and auctions. This list will expand as 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 applied economics,
(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.

Learning outcomes

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

• Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate a familiarity with and basic understanding of research issues; familiarity with contemporary empirical debates and latest research in some specialized areas of economics; understanding of how to approach an economic problem from the perspective of a contemporary researcher in economics.
• Cognitive Skills:...demonstrate capacity of analytical thinking, reasoning and application.
• Cognitive Skills:...demonstrate capacity of critical, creative and strategic thinking.
• Cognitive Skills:...demonstrate capacity of abstraction and problem solving.
• Cognitive Skills:...demonstrate capacity of policy evaluation and the analysis of institutions.
• Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate a familiarity with and basic understanding of economic information; knowledge of specific economic trends and patterns; understanding of particular problems and solutions in economic measurement.
• Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate a familiarity with and basic understanding of economic principles; knowledge and understanding of core concepts and methods in micro and macroeconomics.
• Subject Knowledge and Understanding:...demonstrate a familiarity with and basic 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.
• Subject-specific and Professional Key General Skills:...demonstrate a basic understanding of research skills such as: Data skills: use of library and internet as information sources; knowledge of how to locate relevant data, extract appropriate data, analyse and present material.
• Subject-specific and Professional Key General Skills:...demonstrate a basic understanding of research skills such as: Mathematical/Statistical skills: use/application of mathematics and diagrams in economic analysis; understanding of statistical analysis of data.
• Subject-specific and Professional Key General Skills:...demonstrate a basic understanding of research skills such as: Written communication skills.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Subject specific skills

Applied Economics
Economic information
Economic principles
Research and debate
Abstraction
Analysis of incentives
Analysis of institutions
Analytical reasoning
Analytical thinking and communication
Critical thinking
Policy evaluation
Problem solving
Strategic thinking
Sustainability

Transferable skills

Numeracy and quantitative skills
Research skills
Math, Statistical, data-based research skills
Oral communication
Written communication