Module overview
This module gives an introduction to Economics as a Social Science, focusing on economic behaviour and decision-making in social situations, that is, where own behaviour affects other parties and vice versa.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Abstract the essential features of complex systems and provide a useable framework for addressing economic and policy questions in social environments.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Application of basic economic theory and economic reasoning to topics concerning social environments
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Recognise problems and possible solutions associated with working in teams
- Communicate logical arguments and quantitative reasoning in written form
Syllabus
The topics covered in this module include preferences, strategic behaviour and information, focussing on social environments and social networks, as well as problems of drawing inference from observations for policy. Topics are covered through applications (such as other-regarding preferences, free-riding or the spread of information) and hands-on examples (e.g. inequality, identity and discrimination, marriage market, herding), and in form of in-class experiments.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, tutorials, experiments.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 24 |
| Tutorial | 4 |
| Independent Study | 122 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Matthew O. Jackson (2019). The Human Network. New York: Vintage Books.
Matthew O. Jackson (2010). Social and Economic Networks. Princeton University Press.
Al Roth (2016). Who Gets What - And Why. Harper Collins.
Becker, Gary S., and Kevin M. Murphy (2009). Social economics: Market behavior in a social environment. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Assessment is through continuous successful participation in class experiments, a group take-home assignment and an end of module written examination. This is accompanied by continuous formative assessment through problem sets. This is the same for internal repeat. Assessment for external repeat and referral is through 100% end of module written examination.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Coursework assignment(s) | 10% |
| Participation | 10% |
| Final Exam | 80% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Final Exam | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Final Exam | 100% |