University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Revised November 2002)                   

 

Code:   UPEN4C-15-M               Title:    Industrial Economics                  Version:           1

 

Level:    M                               UWE credit rating:       15                     ECTS credit rating:  7.5

 

Module type:   Standard

 

Owning Faculty: HLSS             Field:   Economics       

 

Valid from:       September 2004                        Discontinued from:

 

Pre-requisites:                        None

 

Co-requisites:                           None

 

Excluded combinations:          None

 

Learning outcomes:    

 

At the end of the module, you should:

 

·         Have an understanding of theories of the firm to an advanced level (Components A & B)

·         Have an understanding of theories of industrial structure, growth and innovation to an advanced level. (Components A & B)

·         Have a advanced knowledge and understanding of the applied literature in industrial economics (Components A & B)

·         Have a critical understanding of the debates within industrial economics (Components A & B)

 

Syllabus outline:

 

·           Theories of the firm

·           Modelling oligopolistic interaction

·           Market concentration and barriers to entry

·           Structure conduct performance paradigm

·           Product differentiation, horizontal differentiation and advertising

·           Size and Growth

·           Technology and innovation

·           Small Firms

·           Case studies

 

Teaching and learning methods:

 

Lectures and seminars will complement each other. Seminars are a vital part of the teaching programme in which students will be encouraged to actively participate. The content of the lectures will provide the necessary background knowledge for the focus of discussion in seminars. Analysis presented in the lecture will be augmented through the discussion of important journal articles in the subsequent seminar.

 

Indicative sources:      

 

Martin, Stephen, 2000, Advanced Industrial Economics, Blackwell.

Tirole, J., 1988, The Theory of Industrial Organisation, MIT Press.

Oz Shy, 1996, Industrial Organisation: Theory and Applications, MIT Press.

Cabral, LMB, 2000, Introduction to Industrial Organisation, MIT Press.

Cabral, LMB, 2000, Readings in Industrial Organisation, Blackwell.

 

 Students will be expected to draw upon current articles from journals including:

 

Journal of Industrial Economics

International Journal of Industrial Organisation

Applied Economics

Journal of Economic Perspectives

 

Assessment

 

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only)   A: 50%     B: 50%

 

ATTEMPT 1

 

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A

Description of each element                                                                Element weighting

1.  Unseen exam, 2 hours                                                                                   50%

 

Component B

Description of each element                                                                Element weighting

1.  Individual coursework assignment of up to 2000 words                          50%

 

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is/is not required)

Component A

Description of each element                                                                Element weighting

1.  Unseen exam, 2 hours                                                                                   50%

 

Component B

Description of each element                                                                Element weighting

1.  Individual coursework assignment of up to 2000 words                          50%

 

 

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is not required.

 

Specification confirmed by  ………………Module approved at VARSC 13.05.04.

 

Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)