Module Code: H8ESP
Long Title Economic and Social Policy
Title Economic and Social Policy
Module Level: LEVEL 8
EQF Level: 6
EHEA Level: First Cycle
Credits: 10
Module Coordinator: Pauline Kelly Phelan
Module Author: Paul Hanly
Departments: School of Business
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 Develop a detailed understanding of concepts and theories relevant to key economic and social policy issues.
LO2 Apply relevant economic theories and economic interpretation to critically evaluate Irish and European economic and social policy issues.
LO3 Critically analyse the different forms of Government intervention in the economy, its justification and its instruments.
LO4 Evaluate the economic implications of Ireland as a small open economy.
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

As per programme requirements.   

  
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Introduction - Ireland in an Economic and Social Policy Context
Key Irish policy goals and performance Present Irish performance indicators Future Irish policy aims and challenges – Demographic trends and housing, labour market trends, education and fundings, environmental policy
Key Macroeconomic policy objectives: Growth, sustainability and equality
Economic growth and efficiency Economic welfare and happiness Equity and income distribution: Theory and trends Measuring the distribution of income and wealth Poverty and inequality policy advances
The rationale for government intervention in the economy
Advanced economic rationale for Government intervention Public goods, Externalities, Asymmetric information Social rationale for Government intervention Government failure
Government and taxation
Government policy instruments: Public Finances and fiscal policy Principles and canons of taxation Overview of the Irish taxation system Direct, Indirect and corporate tax analysis Environmental taxes
Competition policy and regulation
Market power and the theory of competition Competition policy: Definition, institutions and law Recent Irish and European high profile competition cases Civilising the Digital Economy Rational and theories of regulation Applications of behavioural economics to policy
Global and European economic issues
Ireland in a globalised world and policy implications of globalisation The theory of economic integration The single market European Monetary Integration Optimum currency areas and monetary unions Euro benefits and costs of EMU Contemporary global policy issues
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework50.00%
End of Module Assessment50.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type: Project % of total: 50
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 1,2,3
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
The continuous assessment will consist of a project where participants are required, either in a group or individually, to critically assess current policy measures in an allocated area (for example carbon taxes and sustainability, housing policy, education funding, the gig economy) and develop a potential new policy measure in the area which would positively enhance the economy or society based on research and international evidence. Participants will be expected to use data where possible and examine, quantitatively or qualitatively, the implications of their chosen policy measure.
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:
The end of module examination paper will be two hours long, with Students required to answer essay-style questions on module content. All material on the syllabus, which has been covered in lectures 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 Classroom and demonstrations 24 Per Semester 2.00
Tutorial Mentoring and small-group tutoring 24 Per Semester 2.00
Independent Learning Independent learning 202 Per Semester 16.83
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Hagan J., O’Toole F., & Whelan C. Editors. (2021), The Economy of Ireland: Policy making in a global context, 14th Ed. Bloomsbury.
  • Social Justice Ireland. (2022), Socio-Economic Review (Annual): Social Justice Matters: 2022 Guide to a fairer Irish society, https://www.socialjustice.ie/publication/social-justice-matters-2022-guide-fairer-irish-society.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Mankiw N.G., & Taylor M.P. (2020), Economics, 5th Ed. Cengage.
  • Stiglitz J., & Rosengard J. (2015), Economics of the Public Sector, Norton.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
  • [Website], The economy of Ireland: policy-making in a global context by O'Hagan, J. W. (John William), editor, O'Toole, Francis, editor (ncirl.ie).
  • [Website], The fall of the Celtic Tiger: Ireland and the Euro debt crisis by Donovan, Donal, author, Murphy, Antoin E., author (ncirl.ie).
  • [Website], Irish business & society: governing, participating & transforming in the 21st century by Donnelly, Paul, Ph.D, O'Rourke, Brendan K, Hogan, John, Ph.D (ncirl.ie).
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], www.esri.ie.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], www.cso.ie.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], http://www.tasc.ie/.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], http://www.socialjustice.ie/.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/ page/portal/eurostat/home/.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fand d/fda.htm.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], http://www.forfas.ie/publication/search. jsp.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.p /publications.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], http://www.fiscalcouncil.ie/publications /.
  • [Institutions/Think tanks], http://www.nerinstitute.net/.
  • [Website], http://www.irishtimes.com/business.
  • [Website], http://www.independent.ie/business/.
  • [Website], www.ft.com.
  • [Website], www.economist.com.
  • [Website], http://businessandfinance.com/.
  • [Website], www.wsj.com.
  • [Website], www.irisheconomy.ie.
  • [Website], http://www.progressive-economy.ie/.
  • [Website], http://www.thejournal.ie/social-justice- ireland/news/.
  • [Website], http://www.nerinstitute.net/blog/.
  • [Website], https://www.ted.com/topics/economics.
  • [Website], http://www.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events /Home.aspx.
Discussion Note: