EC5202 Microeconomics

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Undergraduate Students: available with the permission of the Director of Teaching only to students in the second year of the Honours programme who have achieved at least 17.5 in EC3302 or EC3305.

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M Zhang

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Min Zhang

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will provide a thorough advanced treatment of the core models and concepts used in modern microeconomics. Microeconomic theory is concerned with the behaviour of individual economic actors (e.g. firms, consumers) and the aggregation of their actions in different institutional frameworks (e.g. markets), and models economic activity as an interaction of individual economic agents pursuing their private interests. Students will be presented with a set of concepts and mathematical techniques which will enable them to achieve a better understanding of economic activity and outcomes. This involves an understanding of how microeconomic models are built, focusing on their objective in terms of the phenomenon they are meant to explain, and the consequences of their assumptions in terms of the applicability of their predictions. Students are expected to have a strong undergraduate level training in macroeconomics, microeconomics and relevant mathematical and statistical techniques. Before commencement of the module, supplementary lectures will be given on the relevant mathematical methods.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS MUST BE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF AN HONOURS PROGRAMME, HAVE SCORED 17.5 OR GREATER IN EC3302 OR EC3305

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 60%, Coursework (including class test 15%) = 40%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

20 hours of lectures over 10 weeks, 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks) plus 1 office hour (x 12 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

170

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Have received postgraduate level training in the fundamental concepts, theories and methods of microeconomics
  • Analyse microeconomic phenomena in an academic or professional context
  • Apply the learned theories to suitable problems arising in other branches of economics
  • Be prepared for potential further study and research in microeconomics