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Political Economics - ECO00058H

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  • Department: Economics and Related Studies
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module provides insights into how politics and economics incentives interact.

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Additional information

Principles of Economics will be the prerequisite for this module

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

The aim is to show how the quantitative toolkit of the modern economist can be used to analyse political decisions and outcomes. This toolkit will be used to analyse questions such:

  • Do institutions influence economic development?

  • How does state capacity emerge and evolve?

  • How do political and economic factors influence the governments' decisions during epidemics?

  • What influence does the media have on elections and political violence?

Module learning outcomes

Having completed this module, students will have gained a deeper insight into how to model questions in political economy theoretically. They will also understand how empirical data may be used to support, or reject particular hypotheses.

The research-led teaching means that students will be able to critically evaluate published research in the field of political economy and form their own opinion on specific questions and problems. The will also learn how to convey and discuss their views to others, and express their thoughts in verbal or written format

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 80
Essay/coursework 20

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 80
Essay/coursework 20

Module feedback

Feedback will be provided in line with University policy

Indicative reading

  • The module will extensively refer to recent academic literature in this growing field.

  • Persson, Torsten, and Guido Tabellini (2000): Political economics – Explaining economic policy, MIT Press


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.