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- UCAS course code
- NR11
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Topics in Inequality & Poverty
Unit code | ECON30041 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 3 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
This course is a 20 credit optional unit at the third year level covering various topics on inequality and poverty and their impact on the economy. By design this course is meant to give a 'grand tour' of the different perspectives through which the interlinkages between income distribution and the economy can be viewed.
The course starts from the basics of how to measure and interpret the levels of inequality and poverty in the economy and covers both analytically and empirically various facets of how inequality and poverty impact the economy and are in turn impacted by it. The course ends with critically examining the mainstream approaches to evaluating welfare and deprivation and discusses possible alternative ideas.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Introductory Statistics for Economists | SOST10062 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Advanced Statistics | ECON10072A | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Principles of Microeconomic Theory 1: Consumers, Welfare, Production and Costs | ECON10171 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Macroeconomic Analysis 1 | ECON10181 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Microeconomics 1 | ECON10221 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Macroeconomics 1 | ECON10241 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Macroeconomics 1 | ECON10252 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Microeconomics 1 | ECON10331 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Advanced Mathematics | ECON10071B | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
(ECON10171 OR ECON10221 OR ECON10331) AND (ECON10181 OR ECON10241 OR ECON10252) and (SOST10062 or ECON10072)
Aims
The unit aims to provide:
- A broad understanding of the theories underlying the dynamics of inequality and poverty;
- A systematic exposition of the different measures of poverty and inequality; and (ii) critically examine the existing evidence on inequality and poverty, and the role of government policy in it.
Learning outcomes
Student should be able to
- Develop a critical understanding of the dynamics of poverty and inequality
- Use different indices of poverty and inequality and recognise the implications of the measures, and
- Follow and comprehend the broad debates on poverty and inequality.
Teaching and learning methods
Synchronous activities (such as Lectures or Review and Q&A sessions, and tutorials), and guided self-study
Assessment methods
Mid-Term Test (through the Blackboard page) 15%
Final Exam 85%
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT: MCQ's ((through the Blackboard page)
Recommended reading
Bourguignon, F. (2015) Globalisation of Inequality, Princeton University Press.
Deaton, A. (2013) The Great Escape: Health Wealth and the Origins of Inequality, Princeton University Press
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Indranil Dutta | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
For every 10 course unit credits we expect students to work for around 100 hours. This time generally includes any contact times (online or face to face, recorded and live), but also independent study, work for coursework, and group work. This amount is only a guidance and individual study time will vary