PP404 Half Unit
Economics for Public Policy
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Richard Davies
Availability
This course is compulsory on the Master of Public Policy. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
Compulsory course for MPP students. Course not available as an outside option.
Deadline for application: 12 noon on the Friday before the start of Autumn Term.
Course content
This is graduate level course for mid-career policy-makers to develop their knowledge and understanding of key principles of economics as applicable to policy-making. The emphasis is on developing an understanding of analytical frameworks and models that can be applied to a wide variety of contexts. Both micro- and macro-economics will be covered.
Teaching
1.5 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.
10 hours of help sessions, 22 hours of lectures and 13.5 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.
Formative assessment
Students will be expected to produce 4 problem sets in the WT.
Students will be expected to submit a policy memo in WT on which they will receive formative feedback.
There will be weekly formative course work to give students the opportunity to develop fluency with the tools covered in the course.
Indicative reading
The Economy 2.0 – microeconomics. Open-Access available here: https://www.core-econ.org/
Moss, David A. A Concise Guide to Macroeconomics.
Reinventing the Bazaar: A Natural History of Markets - McMillan, John 2002
Davies, Richard (2020), Extreme Economies, Penguin.
A full reading list will be provided at the start of the course.
Assessment
Exam (40%), duration: 120 Minutes, reading time: 10 minutes in the Spring exam period
Continuous assessment (10%)
Memo (50%)
Key facts
Department: School of Public Policy
Course Study Period: Winter and Spring Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 56
Average class size 2024/25: 14
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse 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
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills