Economics of Culture and Institutions
| Module title | Economics of Culture and Institutions |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEE3073 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Max Posch (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 150 |
|---|
Module description
The course uses a historical and political economy approach to investigate the evolution and comparative development of societies. In addition, we will study different mechanisms and channels that govern the historical dynamics of a society. Particular attention will be paid to the role of domestic institutions and cultural evolution. While the material covered in the course is grounded in the fields of political economy, economic history, and economic development, there is also significant overlap with other disciplines, such as history, psychology, evolutionary anthropology, sociology, and political science.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The course is intended to not only provide a general overview of the dominant views about the evolution of economic development, but to also provide students a sense of recent research in the field. The module is also expected to improve employment prospects by tapping into and developing distinct transferable skills, including scientific writing, reviewing relevant literature, extracting the most relevant content and expressing it in brief form, and communicating complex data to an audience in an accessible form.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Develop a comprehensive knowledge of the historical facts of comparative economic development
- 2. Discuss the main theories of the evolution of economic development, their empirical support, and their limitations
- 3. Apply economic and evolutionary reasoning to historical and contemporary development issues in a critical manner
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Evaluate the main arguments behind current debates on historical and contemporaneous economic development issues
- 5. Critically assess the strengths and limitations of competing theories of economic development based on relevant data and empirical findings
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Apply analytical and critical thinking skills
- 7. Review literature, extract most relevant content, communicate it effectively
Syllabus plan
- Historical comparative development
- Culture
- Institutions
- Topics: Gender, Conflict, Leaders, Genetics
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 123 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 22 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 5 | Tutorials |
| Guided Independent study | 123 | Reading and reflection. Preparation for lectures, tutorials, and exam |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-class Q&A | Weekly | 1-7 | In-class feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Assignment 1 | 50 | 1000 words | 1-7 | Individual written or verbal feedback to student (if requested) |
| Individual Assignment 2 | 50 | 1500 words | 1-7 | Individual written or verbal feedback to students |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual assignment 1 | Individual assignment 1(50%) | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral Period |
| Individual assignment 2 | Individual assignment 2(50%) | 1-7 | Referral/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
Basic reading:
Readings such as journal articles and book chapters will be available for download on the course website.
Some of the readings have technical details about statistical estimation or economic modeling. These technical details should not be part of assignments. Instead, students should understand the main arguments of all the papers on the reading list and what quantitative facts or case study evidence is used to support those arguments.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module pre-requisites | BEE2038 and BEE2039, or BEE2025 and BEE2026 |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 25/01/2023 |
| Last revision date | 02/02/2024 |
