EU409     
Basic Economic Concepts for European Political Economy

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Abigail Innes CBG 6.03

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe, MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe (LSE & Sciences Po), MSc in European and International Public Policy, MSc in European and International Public Policy (LSE and Bocconi), MSc in European and International Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in International Migration and Public Policy, MSc in International Migration and Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Political Economy of Europe, MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Fudan) and MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is not available as an outside option.

This course is for students with little economic background.  Although this course is intended primarily for students studying on the MSc in Political Economy of Europe (including the double degrees with Sciences Po and Fudan), students from other programmes within the European Institute may also choose to follow this course.  

This course is only available to European Institute Students via Moodle

Course content

This is a Moodle-based course offering a series of reading material and study guides on some basic economics concepts and theory that are relevant to discussions concerning the political economy of Europe that students will come across in their other courses during their MSc degree. The course is not assessed and there is no formal instruction. Students are encouraged to work in teams and to develop discussions on Moodle- which will be partially moderated by the Course Convenor. The material is designed so as to be accessible to students with no previous knowledge of economics but students with some basic economics knowledge will also benefit from it. Example topics include: current account and budget deficits (“twin deficits”), inflation and unemployment (“Phillips Curve”), trade liberalisation and tariffs (“gains from trade”), competitiveness and unit labour costs (“internal devaluation”), and others.

Teaching

This is a Moodle-based course with no formal teaching. Students can arrange one-to-one sessions with their Academic Mentor or Programme Director during Feedback Sessions/Office Hours. Depending on student demand, a limited number of 'EU409 Surgeries' can be arranged.

Indicative reading

J Stiglitz & J Driffill, Economics, Norton, 2000 (or later editions); P Krugman & M Obstfeld, International Economics, Addison Wesley, 2003.

Assessment

There is no examination for this course.

Key facts

Department: European Institute

Total students 2022/23: 74

Average class size 2022/23: Unavailable

Controlled access 2022/23: No

Value: Non-credit bearing

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills