GV120-5-AU-CO:
Global Politics and Economic Policies

The details
2026/27
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
ReassessmentOnly
Thursday 08 October 2026
Friday 18 December 2026
15
08 August 2025

 

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

 

(none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

What is a public good? Why do people pollute? What is collective action, and what forms does it take? This module provides students with theoretical and empirical insights to understand and analyze problems of collective action – i.e. situations in which members of communities need to coordinate shared interests. The module introduces the analytical concepts of collective action and presents applied local and global cases. The course also covers some of the most important questions about the aims and tools of economic policy.


In addition to theoretic issues, the module focuses on the discussion of several contemporary issues: global financial crises, global health, environmental cooperation, and refugees.


The module will be taught in two weekly sessions: a weekly pre-recorded lecture and a weekly interactive seminar. The pre-recorded lecture will consist of one or more items of prepared content that students can access electronically and must study before the interactive seminar.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:



  • To introduce students to key economic and political concepts within public policy.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Understand dynamics of collective action.

  2. Understand what public goods are and how they differ from other types of goods.

  3. Discuss the role of governments with regards to public policy.

  4. Apply insights from collective action, public goods and the role of governments to real-world policy issues. 


Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • 2 hours per week

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   Online Quiz     40% 
Coursework   Take Home Essay    35% 
Coursework   In Class Presentations    25% 

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
Dr Miranda Simon, email: miranda.simon@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Miranda Simon
Module Supervisor: Dr Miranda Simon, miranda.simon@essex.ac.uk / Student Administrator: govquery@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 60 hours, 40 (66.7%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
20 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Government

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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