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ECON1171: Economic Controversies

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Type	Open
Level	1
Credits	20
Availability	Not available in 2023/24
Module Cap	None.
Location	Durham
Department	Economics

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

Principles of Economics (ECON1011)

Excluded Combinations of Modules

None

Aims

To introduce a number of economic controversies for non specialists

Content

A range of material is treated at an introductory level, with topics likely to include some of the following indicative content but will vary from year to year in line with current controversies.
The Causes and the Consequences of Natural Disasters
Why are Premier League footballers paid so much?
What should we do about Global Warming?
Brexit
Should we be Legalising Class A Drugs?
How should healthcare be provided?
Can economic growth continue forever?
Will robots take our jobs?

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Know and understand the basic principles of economics
Be able to apply an economic framework to the analysis of economics issues
Be able to construct and explain fundamental economic models and interrelationships

Subject-specific Skills:

By the end of the module students should be able to:
explain key theories in economics
use appropriate techniques for economic analysis.

Key Skills:

Critical and analytical thinking
Problem solving
Written communication
Own learning
Working with numbers
Library skills
Information retrieval

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Teaching is by lectures and workshops. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, workshops and student reading. Summative assessment is by means of an assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total
Lectures	20	1 per week	1 hour	20
Workshops	8	4 in Term 1, 4 in Term 2	1 hour	8
Preparation and Reading				172
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written assignment	3000 words max.	100	Same

Formative Assessment

One written piece of work to prepare for the summative assignment.

More information

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