EC974-7-AU-CO:
Lectures in Economic and Public Policy

The details
2022/23
Economics
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 06 October 2022
Friday 16 December 2022
10
01 September 2022

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MA L14312 Economics with Public Policy

Module description

This policy-oriented module offers an introduction to the role and limits of government interventions in the microeconomic management of developed economies. Overall, the emphasis is placed on: (i) the identification of most common market failures and the options available for government to address them; (ii) the choice and design of economic and regulatory policies to mitigate these market failures.

The module also touches on the drivers of government failures and the interactions between economics and politics as constraints on the design of public policies, including a wide range of policy issues and trade-offs.
More specifically, focuses on three aspects of the economy. First, the module examines competition policy by studying monopoly industries: the sources, creation and exercise of monopoly power and the principles and practice of monopoly regulation.

Second, the module examines issues surrounding the urban economy. Cities are the locus of global economic dynamism. Dense urban spaces provide advantages to firms, by improving their access to markets and prospects for innovation, and workers, by increasing both their productivity and their leisure opportunities. However, density also causes problems in the form of greater congestion, higher housing costs, and elevated risk of disease exposure. We will examine key policy issues in this context, based around the monocentric city model.

Finally, the module covers a broad range of concepts, theories, and topics related to the economics of health and health care. It builds on the insights of microeconomic theory and has a focus on how governments balance efficiency and equity concerns in setting health policy.

Module aims

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of many aspects of public policy at the microeconomic level, with a focus on: competition policy; urban planning and policy, and health care provision. Upon completion of the module students should be able to, for example, describe the behaviour of a monopolist and describe the difficulties faced by a regulator in controlling these behaviours. Equally, students should be able to understand why government play such an important role in urban planning and the health care sector.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the main types of market failure and the key reasons for government intervention to address these failures.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the basis of: competition policy; urban policy; health care policy.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and critically evaluate the current debates in each of the areas of study.

Module information

Lecture 1: Introductory Concepts in the Regulation of Markets
Motta, chs 1, 2 OR Viscusi chs 10, 11, (2 and 12 optional)

Lecture 2: The Regulation of Market Structure and Conduct
Motta, chs 3.1, 3.2, 4,1, 4,2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2 OR Viscusi chs 3, 5, 7, 8
Zenger, H., and Regibeau, P, (2022) Mergers with Homogeneous Products, A Primer. Research Handbook on Global Merger Control, forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4154423 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4154423

Lecture 3: Innovation
Viscusi, ch 4 AND
European Commission, Directorate-General for Competition, Montjoye, Y., Schweitzer, H., Crémer, J., Competition policy for the digital era, Publications Office, 2019, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2763/407537

Lecture 4: Introduction to Urban Economic Policy – Key Economics Concepts for Urban Areas
O'Sullivan chs 1&2

Lecture 5: Amenities and Agglomeration – Sprawl and Market Failures in Cities
O'Sullivan: chs 4-6

Lecture 6: Private and Public Policy Responses – Tiebout, Trams, and more
O'Sullivan, chs 18-20

Lecture 7: Socioeconomic disparities in health
Bhattacharya, Hyde and Tu, ch 4

Lecture 8: Equity and efficiency concerns in health policy
Bhattacharya, Hyde and Tu, ch 15

Lecture 9: Different models of health policy
Bhattacharya, Hyde and Tu, ch 16

Lecture 10: Student Presentations and Review

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered by 10 x 1-hour lectures. These are intended to be face-to-face but can easily be extended to dual delivery or purely online. The lectures will be designed to be inclusive to all, including those with additional learning needs.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Presentation - submission of slides    50% 
Coursework   Term paper    50% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Katharine Rockett, email: kerock@essex.ac.uk.
Prof Kate Rockett
For further information, send an email message to pgteco@essex.ac.uk.

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
Yes

External examiner

Miss Maria Kyriacou
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Economics

Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.