Module Code: H6MICRO
Long Title Microeconomics
Title Microeconomics
Module Level: LEVEL 6
EQF Level: 5
EHEA Level: Short Cycle
Credits: 5
Module Coordinator: JIMMY HILL
Module Author: Paul Hanly
Departments:  
Specifications of the qualifications and experience required of staff  
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Identify economic relationships between individual economic agents and explain what motivates them
LO2 Produce and interpret economic tools of analysis, such as graphs and apply these to real-world economic issues
LO3 Apply the skills of economic thinking to analyse contemporary issues and assess economic arguments presented in the public media
LO4 Demonstrate awareness of the economic issues concerning personal, business and government decisions
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is required before enrolment on this module. While the prior learning is expressed as named NCI module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Entry requirements  
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
• Introduction to Economics and the Economic way of thinking
• A definition of Economics • Economic change over time • The ‘economic way of thinking’ • The economic problem • Tools for economists: models, graphs and equations
• Economic Growth: Trade-offs and Trade
• Production possibility frontier • Economic growth
• The Market: Demand and Supply
• Markets and competition • Demand schedule and demand curve • Supply schedule and supply curve • Market equilibrium • Predicting changes in price and quantity • Price elasticity of demand and its links to firm revenue
• Limitations of the market I: market failure and welfare
• Sources of market failure • Consumer and producer surplus • The gains from trade • Externalities and welfare economics • The role of the Government: taxes and subsidy effects
• Limitations of the market II: ‘Real world’ consumer behaviour
• Standard model of consumer behaviour • Beyond neoclassical economics: Bounded rationality and behaviour economics • A world of uncertainty: information asymmetries
• Firm behaviour and industry organisation
• The business environment • The production function • Costs in the short run and long run • Revenue and the output decisions
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework50.00%
End of Module Assessment50.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type: Assignment % of total: 50
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Continuous assessment will comprise a combination of assessment strategies. On-line multiple choice tests will be provided during the semester, in addition to a group-based empirical project which will involve in class presentation of results.
End of Module Assessment
Assessment Type: Terminal Exam % of total: 50
Assessment Date: End-of-Semester Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
End-of-Semester Final Examination The end of semester examination paper will be two hours long with Learners required to answer a combination of short questions and a case study. All material on the syllabus, which has been covered in lectures, seminars and tutorials, is assessable.
No Workplace Assessment
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.

NCIRL reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Module Target Workload Hours 0 Hours
Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture No Description 1 Every Week 1.00
Tutorial No Description 1 Every Week 1.00
Lecture Seminar 1 Every Week 1.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture No Description 1 Every Week 1.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 1.00
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Mankiw N.G., and Taylor P.T.. (2014), Economics, 3rd. Cengage.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Mankiw N.G., Taylor P.T., and Ashwin A.. (2013), Business Economics, 1st. Cengage.
  • Parkin M., Powell M., and Matthews K.. (2014), Economics, 9th ed.. Pearson.
  • Krugman P. and Wells R.. (2012), Economics, 3rd ed.. Macmillan.
  • McDowell M., Thom R., Frank R., and Bernanke B.. (2012), Principles of Economics, 3rd ed.. McGraw Hill.
  • Thaler, R., H. and Sunstein, C., R.. (2009), Nudge, 1st ed.. Penguin books.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
  • [Media website], http://www.irishtimes.com/business.
  • [Media website], http://www.independent.ie/business/.
  • [Media website], www.ft.com.
  • [Media website], www.economist.com.
  • [Institution/ Think tank], www.esri.ie.
  • [Institution/ Think tank], http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fand d/fda.htm.
  • [Institution/ Think tank], www.cso.ie.
  • [Institution/ Think tank], www.imf.org.
  • [Institution/ Think tank], http://www.forfas.ie/publication/search. jsp.
  • [Institution/ Think tank], www.ecb.int.
  • [Online learning/videos], http://cws.cengage.co.uk/mankiw_taylor2/ students/stu_mcqs.htm.
  • [Online learning/videos], http://pearsonblog.campaignserver.co.uk/ ?cat=315.
  • [Online learning/videos], http://ineteconomics.org/.
  • [Online learning/videos], https://www.ted.com/topics/economics.
  • [Online learning/videos], http://www.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events Home.aspx.
  • [Blog], www.irisheconomy.ie.
  • [Blog], http://economicspsychologypolicy.blogspo t.co.uk/.
  • [Blog], http://marginalrevolution.com/.
  • [Blog], http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/.
  • [Blog], http://freakonomics.com/.
  • [Blog], http://www.progressive-economy.ie/.
Discussion Note: