Undergraduate Course: Social Economics (ECNM10067)
Course Outline
| School | School of Economics |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course applies the tools of economics to explore a range of questions related to how the social environment interplays with people¿s choices and economic outcomes. We will explore how social ties form in society (friendships, marriage), how social interactions shape people¿s choices (e.g. conformity, peer effects, favouritism) and eventually shape society (segregation, inequality). We will also present novel economic approaches to study anti-social behaviour (crime, drug abuse) and pro-social behaviour (charitable giving, volunteering). We will conclude with a discussion of how social interactions affect individual well-being. The course will use a combination of micro-economic modelling and empirical applications. |
| Course description |
Topics covered may include: Social Networks, Formation of social ties; Measuring social interaction; Social norms and preferences; Pro-social behaviour; Status, inequality and well-being; Crime and antisocial behaviour.
The course is taught through a programme of lectures. Learning-by-doing, through exercise sets. It provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate their skills to use economic theory to analyse real-world problems.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Economics 2 (ECNM08006)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 3 Economics courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. This MUST INCLUDE courses in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Introductory Econometrics. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- A knowledge and understanding of the analysis of how the social environment interplays with people¿s choices and economic outcomes, including theoretical models and empirical evidence, along with associated mathematical and statistical techniques, implications of those models and a deeper understanding of recent research activity in some more specialised areas.
- Research and investigative skills such as problem framing and solving and the ability to assemble and evaluate complex evidence and arguments.
- Communication skills in order to critique, create and communicate understanding.
- Personal effectiveness through task-management, time-management, dealing with uncertainty and adapting to new situations, personal and intellectual autonomy through independent learning.
- Practical/technical skills such as, modelling skills (abstraction, logic, succinctness), qualitative and quantitative analysis, and general IT literacy.
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Reading List
The following three books are good general guides:
Becker, G. and K. Murphy (2003), Social Economics: Market Behaviour in a Social Environment, Belknap Press
Handbook of Social Economics (2011), Volumes 1 and, edited by J. Benhabib, A. Bisin and M. Jackson
Durlauf. S. and P. Young (2001), Social Dynamics, Brookings Institution Press.
Further readings will be indicated for specific topics. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
See Learning Outcomes |
| Keywords | SocEcon |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Michele Belot
Tel: (0131 6)51 5129
Email: Michele.Belot@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Dawn Everett
Tel: (0131 6)51 5958
Email: Dawn.Everett@ed.ac.uk |
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