International Economics - 20 credits
This module enables students to investigate in-depth the principle concepts and theories of international economics concerning issues arising from economic interactions between sovereign states.
Development Economics - 20 credits
This module investigates in-depth the main economic concepts and principles used in understanding economic problems and policy issues as countries transition from low income status to middle and high income status. The module also provides students with an understanding and evaluation of the comparative development experience and performance of major regions of the world, particularly less developed and emerging economies. The module also leads students into assessments of the impact of a range of development strategies.
Public Sector Economics - 20 credits
This module critically investigates the development of the market-based model of the public sector, using case studies drawn, for instance, from education, healthcare, social services, social housing and defence. The module takes an international perspective, highlighting the experiences of the UK, other EU countries, and the US. To achieve its aims, the module introduces, applies and evaluates essential welfare economic concepts and principles. Topics covered include the critical assessment of the optimal scale and scope of the state, the impact of the new public management upon performance assessment in schools, public-private partnerships in funding of major projects, e.g. State hospital building programmes, the crisis in UK Local Government funding and the hypothecation of taxation.
Health Economics - 20 credits
This module provides an introduction to the economics of health and health care drawing upon health markets in the UK, EU, North America as case studies. It will give students a thorough grounding and working knowledge of the full spectrum of economic concepts and models used within the analysis of health and health care markets. Moreover, it includes the analysis of not only those behaviours which are considered good for us, e.g. regular exercise but also considers a range of economic ‘bads’, including smoking and binge drinking. The module demonstrates how health economics and health care influences behaviours, for instance, the way government determines who will live and who will die, e.g. through the allocation of health funding towards some cancer drugs but not others. Moreover, the module will evaluate a range of health management related issues including cost-management, the remuneration and reward of clinical staff and product innovation.
Environmental Economics - 20 credits
This module explores the uses of economic analysis in investigating the causes, consequences and possible solutions to problems of environmental degradation. Some of the major themes in the module include: the determination of the optimum levels of environmental resource usage; the analyses of alternative ways of attaining those targets; and valuation of environmental resources. The crucial notion of 'sustainability' is a key focus as are the proximate and underlying causes of environmental problems.
Further Econometrics - 20 credits
The aim of this module is to strengthen students' understanding of econometric models and techniques relevant to empirical analysis and policy evaluation aoplied to a wide range of Macroeconomic and Microeconomic problems. The module will equip students with the advanced knowledge and skills to design, undertake, and evaluate empirical work within economics, finance and business.
Optional
