EC102     
Economics B

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Francesco Caselli 32L 1.21 and Prof Gianmarco Ottaviano 32L 2.27A

Availability

This course is available on the BSc in Accounting and Finance, BSc in Actuarial Science, BSc in Business Mathematics and Statistics, BSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, BSc in Economic History, BSc in Economic History with Economics, BSc in Economics, BSc in Economics and Economic History, BSc in Economics with Economic History, BSc in Environment and Development, BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics, BSc in Geography with Economics, BSc in Government and Economics, BSc in International Relations, BSc in Management, BSc in Mathematics and Economics, BSc in Mathematics with Economics, BSc in Philosophy and Economics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BSc in Social Policy, BSc in Social Policy and Economics and BSc in Statistics with Finance. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Pre-requisites

This is an introductory course in microeconomics and macroeconomics. Students without a mathematical background may consider taking an introductory mathematics course, such as Basic Quantitative Methods, at the same time.  EC102 is unavailable to anyone who has passed Economics A (EC100). Entrance on to EC100 and EC102 is dependent on Economics A-level or equivalent background. Students without A-level economics (or equivalent) are not allowed to take EC102.

Course content

Part A Consumer and Producer Theory; Competitive Model; Welfare and Market failures; Monopoly, oligopoly and monopolistic competition; Game Theory; Missing markets. Part B Measurement of the aggregate economy; growth and development, economic fluctuations; stabilization policy; money and inflation; unemployment; financial and sovereign crises.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT. 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT.

Two hours of revision lectures will be held in week 11 of both the MT and LT.

Formative coursework

Students will submit two problems sets per term on which written feedback will be provided. Feedback will also be provided on weekly Moodle quizzes.

Indicative reading

Part A: Morgan W., M. Katz and H. Rosen (2009) Microeconomics, 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill. Part B: N Gregory Mankiw, Macroeconomics, Worth, 8th edition.

Assessment

Exam (50%, duration: 2 hours) in the LT week 0.
Exam (50%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

The Lent term examination is based on the Michaelmas term syllabus, and the Summer exam on the Lent term syllabus.

Key facts

Department: Economics

Total students 2014/15: 972

Average class size 2014/15: 14

Capped 2014/15: No

Lecture capture used 2014/15: Yes (MT & LT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of numeracy skills

Course survey results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 83%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.3

Materials (Q2.3)

2.3

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2.2

Lectures (Q2.5)

2.6

Integration (Q2.6)

2.2

Contact (Q2.7)

2.4

Feedback (Q2.8)

2.4

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

62%

Maybe

34%

No

4%