Dr G Mion, S513A and Dr K Sheedy, S682

This course is optional for BSc Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, BSc Economics, BSc Economics and Economic History, BSc Economics with Economic History, BSc Government and Economics, BSc Philosophy and Economics and BSc Social Policy and Economics.

Students should have completed Microeconomic Principles I or II (or equivalent) and Macroeconomic Principles (or equivalent).

The course will concentrate on economic policy issues in the EU and relevant analytical tools. It will treat the issues at a level appropriate for students with the knowledge of economics provided by the courses already taken, though the historical, political and institutional context of the EU will also be relevant.

The topics covered are likely to include some of the following:

1. EMS, EMU and monetary policy.

2. CAP and possible reforms.

3. Labour markets and migration

4. Single market, and regional policy

5. Firms and productivity

Lectures EC303: 20 MT and LT.

Classes/seminars EC303.A: 20 Sessional.

General background readings: R Baldwin & C Wyplosz, The Economics of European Integration, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill, 2006; T Hitiris, European Union Economics, 5th edn, FT-Prentice Hall, 2003; A El-Algraa (Ed), The European Union, 7th edn, Prentice Hall, 2004; D Swann, The Economics of Europe, 9th edn, Penguin, 2000. References relevant to each topic area, including articles from academic journals, will be given out during the course.

A three-hour written examination in the ST.