Early clearing information
This course is available through clearing for home and international applicants
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Global Development
- Typical A-level offer: AAB
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBB
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 35 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £29,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
We are committed to attracting and supporting the very best students from all backgrounds to study this course.
You could be eligible for cash bursaries of up to £2,500 to support your studies.
Find out about our funding opportunities
Course unit details:
Public Economics for the Global South
Unit code | MGDI20242 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This course unit introduces students to basic concepts in focuses on economic policy and the role of government in the economy. The course would discuss the theoretical underpinnings surrounding the arguments for and against the public policies on the economy. Further, it would explore the effects of government taxation on the economy. In addition, the course would provide insights from behavioural economics that assume importance in the design and analysis of the policies. The course unit assumes that students are familiar with basic GCSE maths. The course will be delivered to a mixed-ability class: some students will have studied maths and/or statistics beyond the level of GCSE.
Aims
This unit aims to:
- Introduce students to key concepts in basic public economics and taxation
- Equip students to apply the concepts while analysing policies pertaining to the global south
- Develop students’ ability to think critically on government interventions
Syllabus
Indicative weekly lecture and class schedule
- Introduction to public economics (Week 1)
- Taxation - Commodity, Income and Corporate (Week 2, 3)
- Public goods (Week 4, 5)
- Externality (Week 6)
- Tax evasion (Week 7)
- Public policy and social protection programmes (Week 8, 9)
- Revision and general discussion on evidence across the world (Week 10)
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching and learning will be based on ten lectures (one lecture per week for two hours) and five tutorials (Bi-weekly one tutorial, 2 hours). Lectures will combine presentation of the learning material with some interactive discussion and group activities. Reading lists, lecture slides and tutorial questions/ materials will be posted on the VLE. Tutorials will provide ample opportunities for students to engage critically with the theoretical and empirical aspects and develop their writing and understanding of the topics discussed.
It will also discuss analytical writing skills and students would be asked to prepare short essays, based on which formative feedback would also be given. Specific support in terms of organisations/structure for academic writing will be given through instructions and advice on how to prepare for each tutorial will be posted on the VLE.
Knowledge and understanding
- Explain specific concepts and theories in public economics
- Explain the consequences of specific government interventions
- Describe how behavioural insights can play a key role in design and analysis of public policies
Intellectual skills
- Gain solid understanding on taxation / public goods / externality
- Evaluate critically the government intervention in the context of the Global South.
- Demonstrate knowledge and engagement with various strands of literature through classroom discussion and tutorials
Practical skills
- Evaluate government interventions on taxation and welfare
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Develop a critical arguments, making use of appropriate theory and evidence
- Making coherent arguments and develop writing and analytical skills
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
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Written exam | 50% |
Written assignment (inc essay) | 50% |
Feedback methods
Feedback on the assessments via the VLE within SEED’s guidelines.
Recommended reading
This course unit is majorly based on a single textbook:
Hindriks, J., & Myles, G. D. (2013). Intermediate public economics. MIT press.
Some lectures will also be based on:
Bellinger, W. K. (2015). The economic analysis of public policy. Routledge
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Lectures | 20 |
Tutorials | 10 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 170 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Upasak Das | Unit coordinator |