TOPICS IN MICROECONOMICS - 2020/1

Module Overview

This module looks at developments in microeconomic theory in relation to the role of information in the economy.  It studies models of the basic issues contract theory and asymmetric information (moral hazard and adverse selection) and extends these to dynamic versions of these modules.  The module considers some of the applications of these models (e.g. insurance, labour market contracts). Presentation of the material involves mathematical tools that have been taught in FHEQ Levels 4 and 5 (algebra, calculus, constrained and unconstrained optimisation) and econometrics taught in FHEQ Level 5.

Module provider

Economics

Module Leader

NURMIKKO-METSOLA Sanna (Economics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Economics and Mathematics students:  ECO2051 (Intermediate Microeconomics 2) is a pre-requisite for this module

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Baseline principal-agent model


• Moral hazard models


• Adverse selection models


• Risk aversion


• Applications: investment finance and insurance markets; estimating the welfare loss from adverse selection

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

Understanding of developments in the economics of asymmetric information. Students who complete the module successfully will have demonstrated an ability to answer analytical questions on economic problems involving incomplete information, using a mixture of maths, diagrams and written and verbal reasoning.  They will have had the opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of all the topics in the module.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Two class tests and a final exam.


• Test 1 consists of 10 multiple choice questions (held in week 5, covering material taught in Weeks 1-4, 30 mins). Test 2 will involve answering three short questions (held in Week 11, covering material taught in Weeks 5-9, 60 mins). Class tests are worth 30% combined.


• A two-hour long final exam (70%). This will consist of two sections. Section A will ask students to answer three short questions. Section B will ask students to answer one long question.

Formative assessment and feedback

Students receive verbal feedback on questions asked during lectures and five question sheets (with solutions) are distributed during the module.  After each class test, written feedback is provided, consisting of a complete set of answers; questions that caused particular problems are covered in class. Office hours provide further opportunities for individual feedback.

Module aims

• demonstrate how standard economic models and results are altered by the introduction of asymmetric information
• help students to appreciate how many real-world phenomena can be rationalised with the aid of asymmetric information models
• demonstrate the difficulty and value of empirical research that aims to test asymmetric information contract models
• provide students with tools that help them to evaluate standard economic models

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• enhance skills in economic thinking and written and verbal presentation


• appreciate the complexities of choice under uncertainty and asymmetric information, weighing theory and practice

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 2 hour lectures x 11 weeks


• 1 hour tutorials for further discussion and exercise solving x 5 weeks

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ECO3038

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.