Economics BA

Methodological pathway:

Economic Analysis and Policy

This is a compulsory module for all single and dual honours students in Economics. The module provides students with an introduction to microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis together with examples of their application in order to develop students' understanding of the roles of both in economic policy making.

40 credits

Statistical Methods for Economics

The aims of the module are: 1. To introduce statistical methods and provide an insight into their uses in economics. 2. to demonstrate application of a range of statistical techniques to economic problems. Topics include collection and presentation of data, descriptive statistics, probability and applications, statistical inference, correlation and regression.

20 credits

Plus one from:

Mathematical Methods for Economics 1

This is a core module designed for students who do not have an A-Level in Mathematics or equivalent. It will provide you with specialist support and training to introduce you to relevant key elements of maths taught at A-Level. You will learn to apply these elements in ways that are essential for problem solving in economics. The tools you gain from this module will be used throughout the rest of your degree.

20 credits

Mathematical Methods for Economics 2

This module is designed for students with an A-Level in Mathematics (or an equivalent qualification). You will revisit key mathematical tools covered in A-Level Mathematics (such as differential calculus) and learn to use them to formulate and solve problems in economics and finance. You will also be introduced to other techniques that are essential for problem solving in economics. These tools will be used throughout the rest of your degree. The topics covered include: sequences/series and the economics of finance, functions, univariate optimization, elasticity, integration, multivariate optimization, constrained optimization, and matrix algebra.

20 credits

Optional modules:

Classical and Contemporary Thinkers in Economics

This module introduces students to a range of classical and contemporary economists, including the founders of the discipline and some Nobel Prize winners, past and present. For each economist, a senior member of the department will give a short biography, outline their contributions to the discipline of economics and the development of the subject, and explain how they have influenced their own thinking and research that is undertaken in economics today. Examples of the contribution of these economists to a range of economic issues will be used to illustrate the continuing relevance and application of their ideas.

20 credits

Economic History of Britain and the Modern World

This module provides an introduction to the economic history of Britain and the evolution of the global economy in the context of modern theories of economic growth and development and present-day debates about poverty, inequality and North-South relations.

20 credits

Introductory Finance for Economics

This module introduces students to the financing and investment decisions that financial managers make, and the financial market context in which those decisions are made. Its aim is to provide a solid grounding in the basic concepts of finance for economists, focusing in particular on theoretical analysis and problem solving.

20 credits

Plus a limited number of level one modules from outside the Department of Economics.

Methodological pathway:

Intermediate Microeconomics

This module builds on Level 1 modules in microeconomics and mathematical economics, using the mathematical training to allow a more rigorous investigation of the principles of microeconomics. It aims to develop an understanding and ability to undertake economic analysis of models of the behaviour and interaction of economic agents (consumers, firms and government) in a market economy, the functioning of different types of industries, decision making under uncertainty and economic welfare.

20 credits

Intermediate Macroeconomics

The aims of this course are to provide firm grounding in the analytical tools of modern macroeconomics; to use these tools to understand critically the conduct of economic policy nationally and internationally. The course builds on level 1 modules in macroeconomics. The main subject areas covered are: Basic macroeconomic models: consumption/leisure choice, closed economy one period-macro models, models of search and unemployment; Savings, investment and government deficits: consumption/savings choice (two-period model), credit market imperfections, real intertemporal model with investment; Money and business cycles: flexible price models, New Keynesian economics (sticky prices), inflation; International macroeconomics: international trade, money in open economy; Economic growth: Malthus and Solow growth models, convergence, endogenous growth model.

20 credits

Econometrics

This module introduces students to econometric analysis, through a consideration of regression models, their properties, what can go wrong, and how those problems are solved. Throughout, the module tries to provide students with an intuitive feel for these issues, supported by appropriate mathematical proofs. Students are also provided with the practical experience of performing their own regression analyses, in a supported workshop setting with datasets provided to them.

20 credits

Applied pathway - three from:

International Economics

This module addresses fundamental questions in International Economics, with a particular focus on the phenomenon known as 'global imbalances'. Many countries, including the world's largest economies, have been accumulating increasingly large external debt positions or external asset positions over the last few decades. This phenomenon has important consequences for the stability of the international economy and is often a concern for policy makers. This module will introduce you to modern, microfounded tools required to understand these imbalances, based on the latest economic research.

20 credits

Labour Economics

This module develops theoretical models of the labour market, starting with the competitive model of the labour market through an analysis of supply and demand for labour. A range of issues that can affect outcomes in the labour market will be considered, with an emphasis on the study of empirical evidence concerning these issues.

20 credits

Economics of Financial Institutions

This module covers introductory monetary, banking and finance theory and issues relating to policy and regulation of the banking and finance system. The module introduces the basic concepts in money and banking while it supports and expands on the material provided in ECN201 and ECN202, the second year micro and macro modules.

20 credits

Public Economics

Public economics uses the tools of microeconomics and empirical analysis to study the impact of government policies on economic behaviour and the distribution of resources in the economy.

20 credits

Industrial Organisation

Industrial Organisation is a major branch of microeconomics. It considers the structure, operation and performance of industries and firms using both economic theory and empirical work.

20 credits

Economic Decision-making

In life we are constantly making economic decisions: whether to go to university; whether to leave a tip in a restaurant; whether to buy a house or rent; whether to declare all our income to the tax authority; whether to play the lottery; whether and how much to invest in the stock market. In this module we study economic theory and evidence related to decision-making in these different contexts with a view to understanding human decision-making, how it deviates from standard notions of economic rationality.

20 credits

Macroeconomic Policy

The module will focus on applying macroeconomic theory to a variety of economic policy issues. The module will consider fiscal and monetary policy and will include how policy responds to economic shocks. The course builds on the knowledge of the core first year economics modules.

20 credits

Core module:

Economic Policy and Practice

This module provides an opportunity for you to apply your skills and knowledge to contemporary economic policy challenges. You will develop new skills in economic policy evaluation, and in the communication of economics to both specialists and non-specialists. You will develop a range of subject-specific and generic skills relevant to applied economists working in a variety of jobs (e.g. Government Economic Service, policy-orientated 'think-tanks', third-sector organisations, economic consultancy, etc). This will help you to understand and appreciate the breadth of work undertaken by economists in practice. Finally, you will have an opportunity to reflect on the skills you have developedThe module has a strong emphasis on employability, and the skills you acquire will help you develop various examples of the Sheffield Graduate Attributes (SGA). In particular, key SGAs you will develop are:a) Applying and translating knowledge - you will take the theories and techniques learned in your earlier core modules, and apply them to contemporary economic issues, problems andchallenges.b) Research skills and critical thinking - you will need to critically appraise, analyse and interpret theevidence that you research on the economic policy issues you are considering in order to be able to offer conclusions and recommendations.c) Communication - you will need to communicate your ideas, findings and conclusions using avariety of communication tools and methods that could be appropriate for different circumstances, for example a formal report, a blog or podcast for non-specialists, a datavisualisation or infographic, a video or oral presentation, a policy briefing for a government minister etc.d) Working with others - you will need to work effectively with others, collaborating andcontributing as part of a team.

20 credits

Applied pathway - five from:

Education Economics

The amount of education possessed by individuals will influence their decisions in future. Education relates to issues such as health and labour market decisions. This module examines the demand for and provision of education, incorporating a mixture of economic theory such as human capital; rates of return to further and higher education and course type all of which directly relate to the labour market. Macroeconomic new growth theories are considered using empirical evidence. The graduate labour market is analysed, incorporating changes in the provision of higher education and an understanding of the rationale for the introduction of top-up fees. A final section considers schools, analysing and evaluating issues such as class size reduction, competition and selection, the performance of teachers, and the importance of pupils' family backgrounds, all in terms of their effect on pupil performance.

20 credits

Political Economy

Important economic processes cannot be fully understood without taking into account political and institutional factors and governments' political motivations. This module introduces insights from politics into the study of public policy and economic performance. In particular, it aims to give students: 1. an opportunity for interdisciplinary study within the undergraduate economics degree; 2. familiarity with the modern literature in theoretical and applied political economy; 3. an opportunity to develop their research skills through research-oriented assignments.

20 credits

International Trade

The first part of the course will cover neoclassical trade theories in which countries trade following their comparative advantage. The second part of the course deals with more recent trade theories based on economies of scale and/or imperfect competition that helps us to explain some recent patterns observed in the data. The third part of the course is an introduction to trade policy and the political economy of trade policy.

20 credits

Monetary Economics

This module covers monetary theory and monetary policy. It presents several economic models and discusses what monetary policy can and cannot do, as well as an introduction to the New Keynesian model. The module aims to enable students to apply the skills of economic analysis to the conduct of central banks and to the mechanisms underlying the monetary transmission mechanism.

20 credits

Health Economics

Economics is the study of how society allocates its scarce resources across competing alternatives. This notion of scarcity is as relevant in the health care sector as it is elsewhere and, thus, it is important that the resources available to health and health care are used in the best possible ways. This course will: look at how best should be defined in the context of health care; consider the roles that market forces and governments might play in achieving the sector's objectives; and discuss what information is needed so that resources can be deployed where they will do the most good. The aims of the module are: 1. To enable students to develop a critical understanding of the basis of health economics.
2. To introduce students to the health economists' toolkit, the ways in which it can be used in to inform health care resource allocation, and its limitations.

20 credits

Economic Analysis of Inequality and Poverty

This module will cover the economic theories used for the analysis of inequality and poverty.
The theories will be backed by evidence from both the developed and the developing countries. The module starts off by a discussion of issues around measurement of inequality and poverty; the different measures that are used and the inherent assumptions behind these measures. We then move on to explain the existing global trends in inequality and poverty. Different theories are used to explain these trends; for example: role of human capital, poverty traps etc. Finally we discuss the policy response of different countries to address the issues of inequality and poverty, drawing on the specific examples of welfare programmes in the developed countries and the conditional cash transfers in the developing countries.

20 credits

Economics of Race and Gender

The Economics of Race and Gender first presents an overview of differential outcomes by gender and ethnicity in the UK labour market and discusses the possible drivers of these differences. It then presents economic theories of discrimination in labour markets before discussing the strategies that economists use to test for discrimination in the real world. The module ends with a discussion of the interplay between economics and psychology as a means to better understand when and why discrimination occurs.

20 credits

Behavioural Economics

Standard economic models can successfully model human behaviour. However, the strong assumptions required of economic actors in those models will make systematic mispredictions in some contexts. Behavioural economics tries to overcome the systematic mispredictions by adopting non-standard assumptions, often inspired by insights from other disciplines. The module will discuss empirical evidence that underpins these non-standard assumptions, and will reflect on how insights from behavioural economics can be relevant in real life.

20 credits

Environmental Economics

Economic choices shape nature just as nature can shape our choices. This module provides students with the opportunity to apply economic concepts and methods to issues related to the use and management of the environment and natural resources. The module explores issues, arguments and analysis of market failure in the protection of the environment. It also offers public policy responses to issues of sustainability and climate change.

20 credits

The Economics of Innovation

The aim of this module is to provide an overview of the economics of innovation. The module will study firms' incentives to invest in innovation and the resulting policy implications. In this module you will build on and expand your knowledge of microeconomics. Topics will include the relationship between market structure and innovation, the role of firm cooperation and the effects of mergers on innovative activities. The module will also look at the role of intellectual property rights / patent systems and policy interventions. As many innovations in recent years are in the area of digitalisation and platform ecosystems, the module will also provide a short introduction to the economics of platform markets.

20 credits

Urban Economics

Urban economics is concerned with understanding the spatial form of cities and the spatial distribution of economic activities within a country, making use of theoretical models and empirical evidence. Three fundamental questions are: (1) Why are economic activities within a country so unequally distributed across space? (2) Why do cities, and more broadly agglomerations of firms and workers, emerge and in what locations? (3) What are the consequences of unequal distribution of activities for productivity, innovation and wages? This module covers topics such as:- Why do cities exist and why do firms cluster?- What determines equilibrium city size and features of the urban system?- City growth, spatial transformation and the implications for productivity, knowledge and wages.- Real Estate economics and the housing market.- Diseconomies in cities: Urban location, land rents and land use patterns.- Unequal distribution of economic activities and levelling-up.- Transportation economics.- Urbanisation in developing countries.

20 credits