APPLIED POLICY ANALYSIS - 2021/2
Module code: ECOM054
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in a departure from previous academic years and previously published information, the University has had to change the delivery (and in some cases the content) of its programmes, together with certain University services and facilities for the academic year 2020/21.
These changes include the implementation of a hybrid teaching approach during 2020/21. Detailed information on all changes is available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/coronavirus/course-changes. This webpage sets out information relating to general University changes, and will also direct you to consider additional specific information relating to your chosen programme.
Prior to registering online, you must read this general information and all relevant additional programme specific information. By completing online registration, you acknowledge that you have read such content, and accept all such changes.
Module Overview
The module analyses the sources of inequalities and differences in our society; that is, the module will provide the economic tools and frameworks to understand family formation, household decisions, fertility choices, divorce, as well as the very important policy issues of immigration, gender inequality in career and pay (where the above family mechanisms play an important role), and more generally of discrimination in the labour market. We will consider the different (labour market) outcomes associated to ethnicity, sexual orientation, and obesity/health.The module contains both theoretical and empirical components and will include the interpretation of estimates from econometric analysis, and possibly data analysis as coursework.
Module provider
Economics
Module Leader
FOUREAUX KOPPENSTEINER Martin (Economics)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
JACs code: L110
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- Social objectives and allocation of resources
- Health care provision
- Human capital investments
- Savings and pensions
- The economics of housing
- The economics of crime
- Traffic and road congestion
- Climate change
- Poverty and welfare
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 25 |
| Examination | Examination (2 hours) | 75 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation of how microeconomic analysis can inform policy.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
- Coursework in the form of a take-home essay. This will provide students with an assessment of their understanding of the basic concepts and empirical patterns, indicated in the learning outcomes and module content.
- 2-hour final examination.
Formative assessment and feedback
Students will receive verbal feedback during lectures through direct questioning.
Students will receive written feedback on the coursework submitted. This feedback will help students to judge their own performance and prepare for the final exam. In addition, students will be encouraged to attend office hours to receive further verbal feedback.
Module aims
- provide students with the microeconomic tools needed to analyse a range of relevant public policy issues
- critically examine individuals’, firms’, and governments’ behaviour and the impact of related public policies, both from a theoretical and empirical perspective.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apply economic principles to the analysis of public policy design and its economic and social responses | KCT |
| 2 | Interpret relevant public policy data and empirical findings | CPT |
| 3 | Assess appropriate policy responses for different labour market and social problems | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Overall student workload
Independent Study Hours: 128
Lecture Hours: 22
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
- enhance skills in analytical and critical thinking, and in written and verbal presentation
appreciate the complexities of policy decision making, weighing theory and practice
The learning and teaching methods include:
A series of eleven two-hour lectures/classes including in-class discussions (22 hours: 2 hours per week x 11 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: ECOM054
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Affairs MSc | 2 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Economics MA | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
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 2021/2 academic year.