CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ECONOMICS - 2023/4

Module Overview

The module introduces a set of topics that are part of the contemporary economic discourse, and whose coverage supports and further expands on ECO1014’s teaching.

Module provider

Economics

Module Leader

NURMIKKO-METSOLA Sanna (Economics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Income inequality;


• Social mobility;


• Globalisation;


• Social care.

However, the module's syllabus is reviewed and updated regularly (typically, on an annual basis) to cover the latest UK and global economic issues.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Alternative assessment for the Group Video Assignment: Written individual assessment, 1,000 word limit.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to research and formulate arguments on current economic issues, and to demonstrate their understanding of how economic principles can be applied to real-world contexts.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• A video group assignment worth 20% of the final grade; this allows students to get used to collaborating with peers, to conducting economic research and to think about how best to present economic ideas.


• A group coursework written report worth 20% of the final grade; in addition to collaborating with peers and conducting economic research, this coursework will allow students to enhance their written skills and writing style. 


• A final exam that covers all the taught material worth 60% of the final grade.

Formative assessment and feedback

During tutorials, questions are discussed, and students receive feedback on their answers. In addition, students are provided with an answer guide for each set of questions. Students also receive feedback on their midterm video assignment and coursework.

Module aims

• Show how core economic principles can be applied to issues of contemporary importance for the UK and the rest of the world, while also building stronger foundations for core modules of the second semester of the first year (Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics).
• Introduce students to key debates in current applied economics. In particular we show how economics is useful in considering a range of key debates, illustrating the range of topics that economic analysis can illuminate. Build the foundations for later modules by introducing how both micro and macroeconomics and judicious use of data allows for deeper analysis of real-world issues.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to present some of the key economic issues that the UK and the rest of the world are facing; show how economic principles can be applied to real-world issues; practice reading about and discussing economic matters.

By combining the perspectives from a range of lecturers, students gain a range of perspectives and are introduced to a variety of economic approaches.

The reading and discussion for the tutorials expose student to a range of resources. This enables them to practice decoding economic writing and gives them ideas for sources for their group research.

Tutorials allow students to practice discussing economic ideas in an applied context and gives them feedback on their arguments and communication style.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 11 x 2-hour lectures.


• 5 x 1-hour tutorials.

 

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: ECO1016

Other information

The School of Economics is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Resourcefulness and resilience. Students undertake independent research and find ways to communicate their ideas effectively.

Digital capabilities. Students create and edit a video using appropriate software.

Employability. Students work in groups to find a topic to present, hence develop transferable skills, such as research, teamwork and communication skills.

Global and cultural capabilities/Sustainability. Students work in groups and are exposed to individuals from different backgrounds.

The topics covered in this module are those of profound economic importance and therefore touch on issues of Sustainability (for example by the consideration of Social Mobility, Social Care and Income Inequality) and Global and Cultural Capabilities (for example when discussing Globalization).

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 2023/4 academic year.