Macroeconomic analysis of inequality ECON5155

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: Adam Smith Business School
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

The course will provide an overview of the empirical facts on inequality in high income and low/middle income countries and analyse key theoretical models. It will highlight the interaction between theory, modelling and data analysis, as the latter is used for motivating and evaluating theoretical models.

Timetable

Lectures: 10 x 2 hours

Requirements of Entry

Students must be registered on one of the associated programmes listed in this course specification.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

ILO (covered)

Assessment

Weighting

Word Length/Duration

1-4

Written Assignment

50%

Maximum 3000 words

Course Aims

■ To provide an overview (the facts) of inequality in high income and low/middle income economies.

■ To present recent trends in inequality and evidence on the sources of inequality.

■ To introduce and analyze theoretical models that address various aspects of inequality.

■ To critically evaluate such models.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of the course, the students should be able to

1. Analyse and evaluate the empirical evidence regarding the trends and sources of changes in inequality.

2. Critically evaluate the key ingredients of the models addressing various aspects of inequality.

3. Critically evaluate the literature on inequality and different modelling approaches available, their advantages and disadvantages.

4. Critically evaluate successes and failures of existing research on inequality. 

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.