Undergraduate Course: Industrial Organisation (ECNM10003)
Course Outline
School | School of Economics |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | This course analyses firm behaviour in industries where a small number of firms operate and where the theory of perfect competition does not therefore apply. Alternative theoretical models are needed since firms' actions now directly affect competitors' profits and consumer welfare. This course aims to equip students with tools to identify and understand strategic firm behaviour and enable them to discuss the design of regulation and discuss their impact on welfare. |
Course description |
The course presumes that students have a familiarity with micro theory and basic game theory. Topics in Microeconomics is a prerequisite.
Although mainly theoretical, this course also integrates empirical studies:
The first part of the course (approximately two thirds of the total) provide a broad exposition to topics and industries that current researchers are studying by discussing models of monopoly pricing, oligopoly behaviour, product differentiation, innovation, advertising and entry.
The second part is more empirical and proposes several topics on imperfect competition, the need for regulation and the analysis of real cases concerning European antitrust legislation. This part will be conducted through group presentations on the proposed topics.
The course is taught through a programme of lectures. Learning-by-doing, through exercise sets, groupwork and presentations is an important ingredient of the course. 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:
Topics in Microeconomics (ECNM10070)
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Additional Costs | None |
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 theoretical and empirical analysis of industrial organisation, including principles, models and associated mathematical and statistical techniques, along with empirical analysis and applications and policy 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 and to collaborate with and relate to others.
- Personal effectiveness through task-management, time-management, teamwork and group interaction, 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
Course Textbook
Motta, M. Competition Policy: Theory and Practice, Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Main Reference
Tirole, J. The Theory of Industrial Organisation, MIT Press, 1988.
Additional readings are also provided for specific topics. |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
See Learning Outcomes |
Keywords | IndOrg |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Kohei Kawamura
Tel: (0131 6)51 3759
Email: Kohei.Kawamura@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Dawn Everett
Tel: (0131 6)51 5958
Email: Dawn.Everett@ed.ac.uk |
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