Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2019-2020 (archived)

Module ECON44215: Industrial Organisation

Department: Economics and Finance

ECON44215: Industrial Organisation

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2019/20
Tied to L1T109
Tied to L1T209
Tied to L1T309
Tied to L1T409

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To develop advanced knowledge and analytical skills in the theory and practice of industrial organisation.

Content

  • The module focuses on market structures, strategic interaction between firms, and competition policy, in particular regulation. Topics will be drawn primarily from the following:
  • Imperfect competition
  • Monopolistic competition
  • Oligopoly
  • Contestable markets and barriers to entry
  • Technology and innovation
  • Government regulation and competition policy

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • be able to interpret scholarly literature at the frontier of research in industrial organisation;
  • have explored, understood and appreciated the complexity and contradictions of the current academic literature and its implications for professional practice, and be able to identify open questions for their own research in industrial organisation.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • be able to apply advanced problem-solving and analytical skills to complex issues in industrial organisation;
  • be able to offer policy recommendations in the field of industrial organisation informed by the knowledge and analytical skills acquired in the module.
Key Skills:
  • Written Communication;
  • Planning, Organising and Time Management;
  • Problem Solving and Analysis;
  • Using initiative;
  • Numeracy;
  • Computer Literacy.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • A combination of lectures, seminars and guided reading will contribute to achieving the aims and learning outcomes of this module. The seminars will train the students to solve analytical problems in the theory of industrial organisation, identify and critically discuss its applications as well as giving students opportunity to identify research questions.
  • The written examination will primarily test students' knowledge and critical understanding of the material covered in the module in addition to their analytical and problem-solving skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 1 per week 2 hour 20
Seminars 4 Fortnightly 1 hour 4
Preparation & Reading 126
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Exam Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 2 hour 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

Students will receive written comments on a formative written assignment. Additional formative assessment and feedback may take a number of forms such as oral feedback on work prepared by students for seminars; answers to questions either discussed during a seminar, or posted on DUO.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University