Economics

Course summary

Economics is a social science that attempts to explain how the actions and decisions of firms, consumers and workers and governments affect the operation of the economy. It plays a huge role in our daily lives; it has links to international affairs and politics and is a subject that is often debated and discussed. You will learn the assumptions behind economic terms such as 'free markets', which increasingly dominate political debate. You will realise the bluntness of economic policy tools and the extent to which economic concepts and methods help us understand and tackle issues such as climate change and inequality as well as considering the trade-offs that governments face as they try to resolve problems such as the financial crisis of 2008.