Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2019-2020 (archived)

Module ECON43515: Technology, Innovation and Economic Growth

Department: Economics and Finance

ECON43515: Technology, Innovation and Economic Growth

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Not available in 2019/20 Module Cap
Tied to L1K209
Tied to L1K309
Tied to L1K709
Tied to L1K809
Tied to L1K609
Tied to L1K509
Tied to L1K109
Tied to N3K109
Tied to N3K209
Tied to N3K309
Tied to N3K409
Tied to N3K509
Tied to N3K609
Tied to N3K709
Tied to L1T109
Tied to L1T209
Tied to L1T309
Tied to L1T409

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • Econometrics I (ECON41515)

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To enable students to:
  • acquire and demonstrate a specialist knowledge and understanding of the different theories of economic growth;
  • acquire and demonstrate a specialist knowledge and understanding of the empirical estimation and evaluation of the theories;
  • develop the ability to competently follow frontier research on growth and innovation;
  • understand the role of innovation for economic growth;
  • rigorously assess economic policies for growth and innovation;
  • understand and critically assess theoretical issues and recent developments in economic growth and innovation theories.

Content

  • Economic Growth Facts
  • Sources of Growth: Physical Capital; Human Capital; Ideas
  • Inequality, Political Economy, and Growth
  • Technical Change and Inequality
  • Research and Development, Innovation, and Growth
  • Intellectual Property and Innovation
  • Finance, Innovation, and Growth
  • International Technology Transfer
  • Institutions and Growth
  • Policies for Innovation and Growth

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students should have a specialist knowledge and critical understanding of:
  • the main theories of economic growth;
  • how to empirically test growth theories;
  • the main political issues about economic growth;
  • the macroeconomics of growth;
  • the microeconomics of innovation;
  • the several aspects of intellectual property law.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module students should be able to:
  • explain and critically evaluate important recent growth theories and policies;
  • rigorously analyse innovation policies.
Key Skills:
  • Written Communication
  • Planning, Organising and Time Management
  • Problem Solving and Analysis
  • Using Initiative
  • Numeracy

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module is block taught with a combination of lectures, seminars and guided reading will contribute to achieving the aims and learning outcomes of this module.
  • The summative written assignment will test students' specialist knowledge and critical understanding of the material covered in the module, their analytical and communication skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 6 3 hours 18
Seminars 4 1 hour 4 ■
Preparation & Reading 128
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 75%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual Written Assignment 2,000 words (max) 100% Same
Component: In-class Test Component Weighting: 25%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
In-class Test 1 hour 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

Students will be involved in discussions, and receive feedback, which may take a number of forms such as oral feedback on work prepared by students for seminars; answers to questions either discussed during a seminar, or posted on DUO.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University