APPLIED POLICY ANALYSIS - 2023/4
Module code: ECOM054
Module Overview
The module introduces students to policy analysis and evaluation techniques covering a broad set of policy areas, including health, education, pensions, crime, pollution and poverty.
Module provider
Economics
Module Leader
BRASILIENSE DE CASTRO PIRES Henrique (Economics)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 22
Independent Learning Hours: 95
Guided Learning: 22
Captured Content: 11
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 Online | FINAL EXAMINATION (120 MIN) (ONLINE WITHIN 4HR WINDOW) | 75 |
Alternative Assessment
NA
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 assignment
- A final examination
Formative assessment and feedback
Students will receive verbal feedback during lectures through direct interaction.
Students will receive feedback on the coursework. 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
- Introduce students to policy analysis and programme evaluation techniques.
- Provide students with microeconomic tools needed to analyse a range of public policy issues.
- Critically examine individuals', firms', and governments' behaviour and the impact of related public policies, both from a theoretical and empirical perspective.
- Familiarize students with the frontier of research on policy issues.
Learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | ||
001 | Apply economic principles to the analysis of public policy design and its economic and social responses | KCT |
002 | Acquire practical expertise in evaluation methods applied to issues in public economics | KCPT |
003 | Assess appropriate policy responses for different labour market and social problems | PT |
004 | Critically assess research, summarize research findings and present research to a peer audience | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
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:
Captured content theory lectures
Workshops during which students present summaries of research articles, followed by group discussion.
Guided learning (reading from textbook and assigned journal articles)
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
Other information
In line with the University's curriculum framework, 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:
Sustainability
The module includes policy issues with direct reference to sustainability, including issues addressing the sustainability of public debt, climate change, inequality and poverty, and pollution and transport. We will discuss the role public policy has in achieving more sustainable outcomes.
Global Capabilities
Journal articles will relate to research in a number of different countries. The course will compare benchmark statistics on a variety of measures, including inequality, across countries based on official international statistics and original research. The course will discuss economic issues beyond national boundaries, including climate change, poverty and international measures of inequality.
Employability
Students will build their ability to read and condense the content of journal articles, critically assess the methods employed, and develop an understanding of causal inference applied to real word economic problems. Students will also work on their presentation skills and discuss research and policies issues in a group setting.
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 2023/4 academic year.