Economics, BA Honours

  • Ucas Code: L100
  • Course Duration: 3 years

Economics is an analytical discipline, embodying core elements that include:

  • Understanding, analysing and modelling choices of people, organisations and societies
  • Choices which affect the use of scarce resources.
  • Scarce resources which include human and environmental capital as well as raw materials.
  • Human welfare and environmental quality which depend on resource using, income creating activity.
  • Productive activity which is coordinated through markets, increasingly global in extent.
  • Markets which require a framework of laws and governing institutions (local, national, international).

Reading economic newsThe Honours Economics degree course sets out to provide education in the principles of economics, to enable students to apply the knowledge and understanding they have acquired to address theoretical and applied problems in economics, and to equip students with a range of skills which will be of value in employment or further study. Students will be equipped with:

  • A knowledge and coherent understanding of the theoretical concepts and analytical tools of economics and associated empirical methods
  • Awareness of the economic issues that confront modern society and of the global and national settings in which economic activities take place.
  • Awareness of the economic implications of policy
  • An opportunity to develop in-depth, specialist knowledge in specific areas within economics through optional modules
  • An awareness of key research findings within economics

On graduating the employment opportunities are wide ranging and buoyant. The degree elements of analytical thinking, quantitative techniques and empirical research are key to excellent opportunities in business management, consultancy, government service, finance, and many other sectors. Economics graduates earn well above the average for all graduates. During their course students are encouraged to obtain practical work experience, for short periods or longer summer internships and full-year placements, to enhance their employability.

Course Content

Stage 1: Introductory Economics; Mathematics for Economists; Statistics for Economists; The British Economy; The European Economy; The World Economy; A choice of options from the Business School or other Schools including Modern Languages.

Stage 2: Intermediate Microeconomics; Intermediate Macroeconomics; Empirical Economic Analysis; Applied Economics; Current Economic Issues; A choice of options from the Business School or other Schools including Modern Languages.

Stage 3: Advanced Economic Theory; A choice of options from a wide range of theoretical and applied economics, including Industrial Economics and Policy; Economics of Information; Econometric Analysis; Public Economics; Public Policy; Labour Economics; Personnel Economics; Financial Economics; Monetary Economics; Economics of Risk and Uncertainty; Health Economics; Economics of Development, Transition and Reform; A Dissertation; A choice of options from the Business School or the School of Modern Languages.