| Unit name | MRes Topics in Macroeconomics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ECONM0023 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Abraham |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
MRes Macroeconomics, MRes Microeconomics, MRes Econometrics, MRes Mathematical and Research Methods |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Economics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will introduce students to a wide range of macroeconomic research topics and the methodologies that researchers use to analyse them. Both the topics and the methodologies include both the theoretical and quantitative aspects of modern macroeconomics. The content of the unit is essential to any student who wants to write an MRes dissertation and later on a doctoral thesis in Macroeconomics.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The Macroeconomics units of the first year are designed to equip students with the foundational background needed to conduct Macroeconomics research. This second-year unit will complement the first year unit MRes Macroeconomics by introducing students to various areas of research within Macroeconomics and teaching them the advanced, area-specific tools to conduct research within these areas.
An overview of content
The unit aims to cover a range of topics in state-of-the-art macroeconomic research. The first half of the unit will focus on the application of economic theory in macroeconomic research and will feature topics from the following pool of topics: endogenously incomplete markets due to informational or commitment constraints, optimal fiscal policy, and monetary theory. The second half will be dedicated to the use of quantitative methods in macroeconomics and feature topics such as quantitative models of the labour market, macroeconomics of inequality, and growth and innovation.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
By building on the core methods and concepts learned in the first year, this unit will introduce students to the state-of-the-art methods in macroeconomic research. Furthermore, by introducing students to specific key research areas within macroeconomics, the unit will help students find research questions and prepare them to conduct their own research.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this unit, successful students will be able to:
How you will learn
Teaching will be delivered through lectures and classes.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The students will each make a presentation of an academic paper of their choice in class during which they will receive in-class feedback from both their fellow students and the instructor. This will not only help them get a deeper understanding of a macroeconomic question but also help them understand how to be critical of macroeconomic research. This experience will help them write a referee report on a paper of their choice and eventually write a research proposal, which will constitute their summative assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Presentation (50%) – ILOs 1-4
Referee report (2500 words maximum) (50%) – ILOs 1-3
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis. If a student fails the presentation element, reassessment will be through a video presentation.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ECONM0023).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
