GV120-4-AU-CO:
Politics and Economic Policies
2020/21
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 18 December 2020
15
03 June 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
What is a public good? What is the public good? Why do people pollute? Are there too many cows grazing your pasture? What can be done about it? 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.
This module is a key part of the BA in Political Economics. It is open to first and second year undergraduate students in the Department of Government and serves as a good complement to our module Institutions of Democracy (GV121). It also provides an excellent foundation to the more advanced third year module in Political Economy (GV307).
The module aims to introduce students to key economic and political concepts within public policy.
On successful completion of the module, students will 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.
This module is a key part of the BA in Political Economics. It is open to all undergraduate students in the Department of Government and serves as a good complement to our module Institutions of Democracy (GV121). It also provides an excellent foundation to the more advanced third year module in Political Economy (GV307).
One weekly pre-recorded lecture and one weekly interactive lecture
- Coronavirus recession: The 7 stats revealing how badly the economy is hurting, https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-recession-the-7-stats-revealing-how-badly-the-economy-is-hurting-12047580
- Suhrke, Astri. (1998) 'Burden-sharing during Refugee Emergencies: The Logic of Collective versus National Action', in J. Refugee. vol. 11 (1998) , pp.396-4151998
- Diane Coyle. (2020) Markets, State, and People: Economics for Public Policy, Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press.
- (2017-10-02) Business cycle theory as a basis for economic policy, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Sherman, Howard J. (2014-01-01) Business Cycle: Growth and Crisis Under Capitalism: Princeton University Press.
- Why Is China Building Africa?, https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2019/09/21/why-is-china-building-africa/#3cc94d3a502c
- Clinton, Chelsea; Sridhar, Devi Lalita. (2017) Governing global health: who runs the world and why?, New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
- Knoop, Todd A. (c2010) Recessions and depressions: understanding business cycles, Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.
- Public Goods: A Reflection, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2027678
- (2014-11-13) Cycles, Growth and the Great Recession, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- (2015-09-10) Social Policy in Times of Austerity, Bristol: Policy Press.
- Opinion | What Kind of Problem Is Climate Change? - The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/opinion/climate-change.html
- Burnell, Peter. (1997-09-01) Foreign Aid in a Changing World, Buckingham: Open University Press.
- Helm, Carsten. (2000-07-26) Economic Theories of International Environmental Cooperation, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- Dambisa Moyo. (March 21, 2009) Why Foreign Aid Is Hurting Africa.
- Tool, Marc R. (2019-07-25) Institutionalist Guide to Economics and Public Policy, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Freund, Lucas. (2017-06-13) Solutions to Collective Action Problems: Grin Verlag.
- Tadelis, Steven. (2013-01-10) Game Theory: Princeton University Press.
- Varoufakis, Yanis. (2016-04-05) And the Weak Suffer What They Must?, New York: Avalon Publishing Group.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Online Quiz |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Take Home Essay |
|
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Lasma Kokina, email: lasma.kokina@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Lasma Kokina
Module Supervisor: Lasma Kokina lk19903@essex.ac.uk
Module Administrator Nicola Rowley govquery@essex.ac.uk
Module Administrator: Nicola Rowley, govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Mohammed Rodwan Abouharb
University College London
Available via Moodle
Of 430 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
430 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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