ECM185-Economics of Social Policy

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Simonetta Longhi
Email: s.longhi@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is intended to cover the most important social economic policy issues of the day. Consequently, the topics may vary from year-to-year in order to reflect contemporary relevance. The emphasis will be on how economic analysis can contribute to the solution of domestic and international social problems. Indicative topics are: poverty, social exclusion, unemployment, immigration, gender and racial wage gaps.

Aims:
The module is intended to equip students with an understanding of contemporary social economic problems and to provide students with the key tools economists use in analysis and policy advice.

Assessable learning outcomes:
At the end of the module, students should:

􀀕 Have developed an understanding of the major social economic problems and issues that face the UK and a selection of other countries.
􀀕 Have developed an appropriate economic framework and set of tools for analysing the issues
􀀕 Be able to analyse the effectiveness or otherwise of different policy options using the toolkit.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

This module is intended to cover the most important social economic policy issues of the day. Consequently, the topics may vary from year-to-year in order to reflect contemporary relevance. The emphasis will be on how economic analysis can contribute to the solution of domestic and international social problems. Indicative topics are: poverty, social exclusion, unemployment, immigration, gender and racial wage gaps.

Global context:
Through project work, students are encouraged to conduct international comparative exercises concerning policy issues.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module is delivered via a blended learning approach. ÌýThere will be 10 weekly seminars in weeks 1-10.Ìý Students are expected to study the material provided, which could include pre-recorded lectures and/or reading material, before each seminar.Ìý During the seminars, students will have a chance to discuss aspects of the topic studied, and can start preparing and discussing their assessed coursework.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students are required to submit two projects. Each project must be submitted by an agreed deadline.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 􀀓Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes􀀔, which can be found here: