EC261-5-SP-CO:
Management of New Technology
2025/26
Economics
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
03 September 2025
Requisites for this module
EC111 or IA151 or IA153
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA 9L11 Management Economics (Including Placement Year),
BA L108 Management Economics,
BA L190 Management Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BA L192 Management Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC 5M00 Management Economics (Including Placement Year),
BSC L109 Management Economics,
BSC L191 Management Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC L193 Management Economics (Including Year Abroad),
MECNL133 Management Economics,
MECNL134 Management Economics (Including Placement Year),
MECNL135 Management Economics (Including Year Abroad)
This module introduces you to the economics of innovation, the process of creating, developing, and diffusing new technologies, its determinants and its effects on employment, market structure, and welfare. The course begins by illustrating the key role of innovation as driver of economic growth; it then discusses the different sources of funding for innovative activities, focusing, in particular, on explaining the economic rationale at the base of intellectual property rights (IPR). This discussion will lead us to talk about the impact of IPR on innovation, but also the relationship between competition and innovation, and the interaction between IPR and competition. A special attention will be devoted to understanding the role that new technologies are playing in explaining the increasing concentration of market power, and whether, in turn, the rise of “superstar firms” hinders or stimulates productivity growth. Finally, the course will discuss the challenges and opportunities that new technologies create in the labour market, including technological unemployment, but also the rise of green jobs.
The aim of this module is:
- To develop the basic economic tools (theory and empirical) to understand the behaviour of firms that compete in highly technological industries such as computers, electronics, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
- Have an understanding of the application of economics model-building methodology to the challenges of management of technology.
- Formulate a general conceptualization of the process of creating, developing and diffusing new technologies.
- Have developed an understanding of the challenges to public policy in this area.
- Develop and demonstrate their written communication skills by completing the term paper for the course.
Employability skills
The module provides students with the following employability skills:
- Academic skills (literacy, numeracy, ICT skills, communication skills) are enhanced through essay writing, mathematical problem solving and the use of ICT equipment.
- Students are encouraged to carry out research and information gathering for term papers and as background reading.
- External awareness is promoted through real world case studies.
- Personal development planning (target setting and time management) is also promoted.
No additional information available.
The module will be delivered via:
- One 2-hour Lecture per week, some of the contact hours may be used for classes.
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 |
Take Home Assignment |
|
|
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mr Evgeny Iakovlev, email: ei24161@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Evgeny Iakovlev
For further information, send an email message to ueco (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Andriy Launov
University of Kent
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 22 hours, 22 (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.
Economics
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