EC111-4-FY-CO:
Introduction to Economics

The details
2015/16
Economics
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
30
03 July 2002

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
EC100

 

BE311, BE312, BE313, BE314, BE317, BE334, BE610, EC114, EC115, EC120, EC201, EC202, EC245, EC246, EC247, EC261, EC262, EC335, EC386, EC831

Key module for

BSC N4L1 Accounting with Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC NKL1 Accounting with Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC NL41 Accounting with Economics,
BSC NL44 Accounting with Economics (Including Placement Year),
BSC N233 Actuarial Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC N323 Actuarial Science,
BSC N324 Actuarial Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N325 Actuarial Science (Including Foundation Year),
BA 0F66 Economics (Including Placement Year),
BA L100 Economics,
BA L102 Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BA L106 Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC 0E45 Economics (Including Placement Year),
BSC L101 Economics,
BSC L103 Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC L107 Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC LG11 Economics and Mathematics,
BSC LG1C Economics and Mathematics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC L1G1 Economics with Mathematics,
BSC L1GC Economics with Mathematics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC GN13 Finance and Mathematics,
BSC GN1H Finance and Mathematics (Including Year Abroad),
BA 5A84 Financial Economics (Including Placement Year),
BA L111 Financial Economics,
BA L118 Financial Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BA L195 Financial Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC 0Q64 Financial Economics (Including Placement Year),
BSC L114 Financial Economics,
BSC L117 Financial Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC L194 Financial Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BA LV11 History and Economics,
BA VL11 History and Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BA 9O47 International Economics (Including Placement Year),
BA L115 International Economics,
BA L160 International Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BA L163 International Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC 5H18 International Economics (Including Placement Year),
BSC L116 International Economics,
BSC L161 International Economics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC L162 International Economics (Including Year Abroad),
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),
BA L0V0 Philosophy, Politics and Economics,
BA L0V1 Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Including Placement Year),
BA L0VA Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Including Year Abroad),
BA L148 Financial Economics and Accounting,
BA L149 Financial Economics and Accounting (Including Year Abroad)

Module description

This module provides a broad overview of economics suitable as an introduction to the subject for all undergraduates. It is designed to develop students' knowledge of economic ideas in the context of contemporary issues using the tools of elementary economic analysis. Students are shown how to apply economic reasoning to a range of problems relevant for understanding the mechanisms and institutions which allocate and distribute resources. In the Autumn Term theories of individual (micro) behaviour are introduced, including consumer decision-making as well firms' conduct in different market structures. In the Spring Term the focus shifts to the study of aggregate (macro) level economic activity: inflation, unemployment, business cycles and economic growth. The national economy is analysed in a global environment that includes international trade, monetary and financial systems. The effects of government policy and the choice of those policies is analysed throughout the module.

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to apply elementary economic principles to the analysis of problems in microeconomics and macroeconomics. They will have learned how to apply marginal analysis to demonstrate knowledge of economic decision making and the relevance of opportunity costs. In completing the assignments and tests, students will demonstrate their problem-solving analytical and deductive skills.

Module aims

No information available.

Module learning outcomes

No information available.

Module information

Compulsory for: Year 1 students registered for BA/BSc Economics, BA/BSc International Economics, BA/BSc Management Economics, BA/BSc Financial Economics, BA Economics with French/German/Italian/Spanish, BA Economics and Politics, BA PPE, BA History and Economics, BSc Economics with Mathematics, BSc Mathematics and/with Economics, BA Accounting with Economics.

Students at Essex only for the Autumn term are assessed on the basis of two pieces of work (assignments or tests), the average of which is the final mark for the course.

Learning and teaching methods

2 lectures per week, weeks 2-11, 16-25. 1 class per week, weeks 3-11, 16-25, 30. Support class available weeks 3-11 and 16-25.

Bibliography

(none)

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   ASSIGNMENT 1     50% 
Written Exam  TEST 1     50% 
Exam  Main exam: 180 minutes during Summer (Main 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

Coursework Exam
50% 50%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
0% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Gianluigi Vernasca (Au) & Prof Tom Crossley (Sp)
For further information, send an email message to ueco@essex.ac.uk.

 

Availability
Yes
No
No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

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.