ECM185: Economics of Social Policy

Module code: ECM185

Module provider: Economics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Stephen Kastoryano, email: s.p.kastoryano@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is intended to cover the most important socio-economic policy issues of the day. Consequently, the topics may vary from year-to-year in order to reflect contemporary relevance. The emphasis will be on how economic analysis can contribute to the solution of domestic and international social problems. Indicative topics are: poverty, social exclusion, unemployment, migration, gender and racial wage gaps.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Develop an understanding of selected socio-economic problems and issues faced by the UK and other countries;
2. Develop an appropriate economic framework and set of tools for analysing the issues;
3. Analyse the effectiveness or otherwise of different policy options.

Module content

This module is intended to cover the most important socio-economic policy issues of the day. Consequently, the topics may vary from year-to-year in order to reflect contemporary relevance. The emphasis will be on how economic analysis can contribute to the solution of domestic and international social problems. Indicative topics are: poverty, social exclusion, unemployment, migration, gender and racial wage gaps.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is delivered in weekly lectures and seminars. Students are expected to study the material provided, which could include lecture content and/or reading material, before each seminar. During the seminars, students will have a chance to discuss aspects of the topic studied, and can start preparing and discussing their assessed coursework.

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs