The module aims to build on the analytical tools developed in the Business Economics module and extend the analysis to a number of economic policy areas. The behaviour of firms is analysed through theories such as agency theory, transaction costs and asymmetric information. A number of policy issues such as the regulation of natural monopolies, deregulation, and the comparative performance of public and private ownership will be analysed.

The learning strategy for the module requires students to commit 150 learning hours (including assessment) of this there will be 36 hours of class support and 114 hours of independent and self directed study. Support will also be given by access to Scheduled Tutor Office Hours to support the module.

The lecture/tutorial pattern may vary with some activities taking place in medium size group workshops.

24 hours of formal lectures/large group activity
12 hours of tutorials

Students will be expected to work on pre-assigned questions including group work with presentation of the results to the class, allowing for formative feedback. These questions will extend the material introduced in lectures and will be part of students' independent learning. Each group of students will be expected to make one presentation in each learning block.

The Library
The internet

Dornbusch R, Fischer S and Startz R. (2001), Macroeconomics, McGraw-Hill
Griffiths A & Wall S, (2004), Applied Economics, 10th ed, Prentice Hill
Rickets, M (2002), The Economics of Business Enterprise, 3rd ed., Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
Le Grand J, Propper C, Smith S (2008) The Economics of Social Problems, 4th ed. Palgrave MacMillan

The group presentation (20%) and one individual piece of written work (20%) assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4 and 6)
The one hour class test at the end of the teaching block (60%) will assess Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 5 and 7)

Have studied Business Economics of equivalent