Study information

Family Economics and Policy

Module titleFamily Economics and Policy
Module codeBEE2035
Academic year2025/6
Credits15
Module staff

Sonia Oreffice (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Module description

The module examines the nature and behaviour of households in modern economies. The module will introduce a supply and demand model of the marriage market, the analysis of household production and division of labour in the family, gains from marriage, matching in the marriage market, divorce, intra-household bargaining, economics of fertility, and birth control. The module contains both theoretical and empirical components and will include the interpretation of estimates from econometric analysis. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

  • Provide you with the microeconomic tools needed to analyse fundamental contemporary questions concerning the individuals’ behaviour inside and outside the family.
  • Help you to understand contemporary issues in economics and public policy and society overall, concerning the formation and dissolution of families, race inequalities,  work and family decisions, and children. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. apply economics to fundamental contemporary questions concerning individuals’ behaviour inside and outside the family.
  • 2. apply standard economic principles to the analysis of marriage/partnership, divorce, fertility, division of labour, childcare.
  • 3. describe the main features of, and trends in, the UK household patterns and family policies.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 4. interpret relevant data and empirical findings
  • 5. assess appropriate policies for various social problems

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 6. demonstrate awareness of the role of numerical evidence in Economics
  • 7. demonstrate written communication skill

Syllabus plan

Indicative content includes:

  • Analysis of the economic aspects of the family.
  • Development and application of microeconomic tools to the study of households and their interaction in the economy.
  • The marriage market, basic and extended model (matching)
  • Intra-household bargaining; Divorce
  • Fertility; sex ratio and its imbalances
  • Household production and the division of labour
  • Family policies

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

  • enhance skills in analytical and critical thinking, and in written and verbal presentation
  • appreciate the complexities of decision making, weighing theory and practice

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
281220

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching activities22Lectures : 11 lectures of 2 hours each
Scheduled learning and teaching activities5Tutorials: 5 tutorials of 1 hour each
Scheduled learning and teaching activities1Revision
Guided independent study122Reading, research, reflection; preparation for lectures, tutorials and assessments

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Tutorial questionsIn class1-7In class feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
01000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Test3040 minutes1-7Individual feedback
Final exam701 hour 30 minutes1-7Indicative solutions on ELE

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Test (30%)Test (30%) - 40 minutes1-7Referral/deferral period
Final examination (70%)Examination (1 hour 30 minutes) (70%) 1-7Referral/deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Essential Reading

  • Hoffman, S.D., Averett, S. (2021), “Women and the Economy: Family, Work, and Pay” , fourth edition. Additional readings (excerpts of recent research articles, policy reports, and articles from The Economist) will be assigned. The exact references will be provided by the instructor.

Recommended Reading

  • Eswaran, M. (2014), “Why gender matters in economics”, Princeton University press

Background Reading

  • Becker, G. (1991) A Treatise on the Family. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.
  • Becker, G. (1992), “The economic way of looking at life”, Nobel Lecture.
  • Blau, F.D., Ferber, M.A., Winkler, A.E. (2006) The economics of women, men, and work, Pearson Prentice Hall
  • Browning, M., Chiappori, PA, Weiss, Y. (2014) Economics of the Family, Cambridge University Press
  • The Economist providing contextual articles and current examples.

 

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources



Key words search

Family Economics

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

BEE1036 and BEE1037 or BEE1029

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

5

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

09/03/2018

Last revision date

01/02/2024