| Unit name | Introduction to Research Methods |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ECONM1017 |
| Credit points | 0 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Smith |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Economics, Finance and Management |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This course will look at a number of practical approaches to policy evaluation. The first is social cost benefit analysis, which takes the basic principles of private sector project appraisal, but adapted to the different priorities of the public sector. Students will be introduced to the principles and techniques of social CBA and consider applications to the London congestion charge, climate change mitigation and building dams in India. Secondly, the course will look at a number of methods for evaluating the impact of policies after they have been introduced, including social experiments and non-experimental approaches (instrumental variables, differences-in-differences). The usefulness and limitations of alternative methods will be considered in relation to the introduction of teh minimum wage, welfare-to-work policies and increased spending on the police.
