Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2020-2021 (archived)

Module ECON447JN: ADVANCED MICROECONOMICS

Department: Economics and Finance

ECON447JN: ADVANCED MICROECONOMICS

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2020/21 Module Cap None.
Tied to N3K209J

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To develop knowledge and analytical skills in advanced microeconomic theory and its applications.

Content

  • Topics, reflecting the current state of the field, may include
  • consumer theory;
  • producer theory;
  • decision making under risk and uncertainty;
  • incentives and strategic behaviour;
  • market equilibrium;
  • general equilibrium;
  • welfare economics.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • be able to interpret scholarly literature in advanced microeconomics;
  • have had the opportunity to practice some applications of microeconomics in complex specialised contexts;
  • have explored, understood and appreciated the complexity and contradictions of the current relevant academic literature and be able to identify open questions for their own research.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • be able to apply problem-solving and analytical skills to complex issues in microeconomics.
Key Skills:
  • Written Communication;
  • Planning, Organising and Time Management;
  • Problem Solving and Analysis;
  • Using Initiative;
  • Numeracy;
  • Computer Literacy.

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

  • Lectures will present the topics in detail, give suggestions for further reading, give guidance for the problems for the seminars, and give students the necessary knowledge to read and understand the scholarly literature.
  • In the seminars students will be encouraged to actively participate and solve the problems. The seminars will train the students to solve analytical problems in economic theory, as well as giving students opportunity to identify research questions. The written exam will test students' ability to solve advance analytical problems in microeconomic theory.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 1 per week 2 hour 20
Seminars 4 Fortnightly 1 hour 4
Preparation & Reading 126
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Unseen written examination 2 hours 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

One formative assignment will be assessed. This will be a set of analytical problems.


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