The course in Political Economy aims to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills to analyse and interpret the current economic reality. This subject aims to provide an overview of the economic problems that affect society, the conflicts that arise within the economic reality and the different economic approaches when analysing this reality.



This is an introductory course that is taught jointly to students of the Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, the Degree in Political Science and Public Management and the Double Degree in Political Science, Public Management and Sociology. Given its introductory nature, the subject matter is adapted so that it can be understood by students coming from different secondary school specialisations. The study of this subject within all three degrees is key to enabling students to understand social and economic problems in their future work practice.

CORE COMPETENCES

CB1 - That students have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in an area of study that builds on the foundation of general secondary education, and is usually at a level that, while relying on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study.

CB2 - Students are able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the competencies usually demonstrated through the development and defence of arguments and problem-solving within their field of study.

CB3 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make judgements that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.

CB4 - Students are able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

CB5 - That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.



GENERAL COMPETENCES

G003 (Sociology) - Identify and define the basic components of the most relevant social problems.

G005 (Sociology) - Identify and analyse the basic processes and needs that occur in public and private organisational structures.

G007 (PC&AP) - Know the approaches to governance and the processes of adopting public objectives and political decisions, to plan, implement, evaluate and analyse public policies.

G008 (CPyAP) - Develop indicators using quantitative and qualitative data to identify, analyse and evaluate different dimensions of political phenomena and institutional and administrative functioning.



TRANSVERSAL COMPETENCES

TC2 - Social commitment

CT5 - Information management and digital citizenship

TC7 - Critical thinking

TC8 - Group work



SPECIFIC COMPETENCES

C1CC01 - Identify, define and analyse the social, political and economic factors that explain the processes of change and continuity of political and social reality.

C1CC04 - Recognise and describe the basic economic mechanisms of market functioning and the evolution of the economic environment.

C1CC06 - Consult secondary information from different sources (official institutions, libraries, Internet) and draw conclusions and reports from it.



LEARNING OUTCOMES

LO1 - Analyse and contrast, from a critical approach, the evolution of the main economic ideas, reflecting on the different theoretical perspectives that exist to analyse reality.

LO2 - Interpret the mechanisms that govern a free competitive market and reflect on the limits and failures that occur in the real market.

LO3 - Identify and interpret the main macroeconomic magnitudes that measure the economy of a country analysing the effects on economic agents.

LO4 - Delimit the role and functions of the state in economic matters as well as the analysis of its action through economic policy.

LO5 - Reflect on the new challenges facing economies: globalisation, women and the economy, the green economy, and human and sustainable development.

LO6 - Appropriately use economic data and information from secondary sources to document descriptive reports and analyses of economic fields and/or applied economic research.

COURSE OUTLINE



PART ONE

Lesson 1. Political economy as a social science. Different approaches to the concept and scientific methods.

Lesson 2. The main currents of economic thought. The main economic schools, their contributions and their most important representatives throughout history.



SECOND PART

Lesson 3. The functioning of markets. Analysis of the market from the model of perfect competition.

Lesson 4. Limits of the market in competition. Main criticisms of the model.



PART THREE

Lesson 5. Measurement of economic activity. The main macroeconomic indicators.

Lesson 6. The State and the Economy. The main objectives and instruments of economic policy.



PART FOUR

Lesson 7. New trends, problems and challenges of today's economy. Economic globalisation and its consequences. New conceptual and academic contributions to economics.





APPLIED LESSONS



1. Research and analysis of data and indicators to study areas of economic activity to establish and draw conclusions.

2. Reading and understanding scientific articles to carry out a critical analysis.

3. Written work analysing the main indicators of an economy. Oral presentation of the work.

The theoretical programme of the course is taught using a methodology that combines lectures given by the teaching staff with practical applications of the programme, such as the use of economic indicators, problem solving or commenting on current issues. For this purpose, the audiovisual media available in the classroom will be used (presentations, videos, audio, etc.). The course material for students will be available through the eGela platform (egela.ehu.eus).



The applied lessons will consist of a series of different activities such as research and analysis of economic indicators, case studies, problem solving, written assignments and oral presentations. For the applied lessons, the course will be divided into two groups and the use of computers will be required.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 65
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 10
  • Exhibition of works, readings ... (%): 10
  • Individual assignments (exercises, case studies...) (%): 15

1. CONTINUOUS EVALUATION SYSTEM



FINAL EXAM (65%):



The final exam represents 65% of the course grade, in which the theoretical skills will be evaluated.



APPLIED PROGRAMME (35%):



The applied programme represents 35% of the final grade and its evaluation includes:

- Individual research, processing and analysis of economic indicators: 15%.

- Group assignment on the economic situation: 10%.

- Group oral presentation of the group assignment: 10%.



Attendance to the applied lessons is compulsory.



The final grade for the course will be obtained from the sum of the percentages corresponding to each of the parts, provided that the minimum grade for the final exam is higher than 4/10 (four out of ten).





2. FINAL ASSESSMENT SYSTEM



In accordance with art. 8.3 of the Regulations on Student Assessment, students who wish to leave the continuous evaluation system and take the final exam must submit a written waiver to the lecturers within the first nine weeks of the term.



In this case, the final exam will represent 100% of the final grade and will be based on the basic bibliography and the materials used in class. This exam will be used to evaluate both the theoretical and applied lessons.





WAIVING THE ORDINARY EXAMINATION



The waiver of the ordinary examination will result in the qualification of ABSENT.



Under article 12.2 of the Regulations Governing Student Assessment, failure to appear for the test set on the official assessment test date will be sufficient for the final grade to be ABSENT.

1. CONTINUOUS EVALUATION SYSTEM



Assessment of the lessons: the written exam represents 65% of the final grade and will assess the theoretical competencies of this course.



Assessment of the applied lessons:

- Individual research, processing and analysis of economic indicators: 15%.

- Group assignment on the economic situation: 10%.

- Group oral presentation of the group assignment: 10%.



In the extraordinary examination period, students who wish to do so will keep the applied work grade obtained in the ordinary call.



The final grade for the course will be obtained from the sum of the percentages corresponding to each of the parts, provided that the minimum grade for the exam is higher than 4/10 (four out of 10).





2. FINAL EVALUATION SYSTEM



In this case, the final exam will represent 100% of the final grade and will be based on the basic bibliography and the materials used in class. This exam will be used to evaluate both the theoretical and applied lessons.





OPTING OUT THE EXTRAORDINARY EXAMINATION



In accordance with article 12.2 of the Regulations Governing Student Assessment, failure to appear for the test set on the official assessment test date will be sufficient for the final grade to be ABSENT.

To follow the course properly, it is essential to use the material provided through the eGela platform (egela.ehu.eus) for each of the lessons.

In addition, it will be necessary to use computers for processing economic data for certain topics of the applied lessons to be carried out in the classroom.

Basic bibliography

Conde, Francisco J.; González, Sara (2001) Indicadores económicos. Ed. Pirámide, Madrid.

Krugman, P., Wells, R., Graddy, K. (2022). Essentials of Economics, 5th Ed. Worth Publishers, New York and Basingstoke.

Serrano, José (dir.); Durán, Gemma; Guimón, José (2009) Entorno económico. Instrumentos para su análisis. Ed. Pirámide.

The CORE Team. The Economy. Available at: www.core-econ.org/project/core-the-economy

Torres, J. (2022). Economía Política (6º Ed.). Colección Economía y Empresa. Editorial Pirámide. Madrid.

Torres, J. (2022). Introducción a la economía (3º ed.). Colección Economía y Empresa. Editorial Pirámide. Madrid.

In-depth bibliography

Corona, Juan; Puy, Pedro (eds) (2001) Economía en broma y en serio. Minerva.
Estefanía, Joaquín (2007) La mano invisible. El gobierno del mundo. Ed. Punto de encuentro.
Galbraith, John Kenneth (1994) Un viaje por la economía de nuestro tiempo. Editorial Ariel.
Galbraith, John Kenneth; Salinger, Nicole (2005) Introducción a la economía. Una guía para todos (o casi). Ed. Crítica, 2ª edición.
Gallego, Juan R.; Nácher, Jose (coord.) (2001) Elementos básicos de economía. Ed. Tirant Lo Blanch, Valencia.
Heilbroner, Robert; Milberg, William (1998) La crisis de visión en el pensamiento económico moderno. Editorial Paidos.
Jiménez Herrero, Luis M. (1996) Desarrollo sostenible y economía ecológica. Editorial Síntesis.
Krugman, Paul (1997) El internacionalismo moderno. La economía internacional y las mentiras de la competitividad. Ed. Crítica/Grijalbo-Mondadori.
Martínez, Mª Jose (2000) Ekonomia pentsamenduaren eskolak. Lur Entzilopedia Tematikoa, pp. 97-106.
Mochón, Francisco (2009) Economía. Teoría y política. Ed. McGraw-Hill, Madrid.
Riechman, Jorge (1998) Necesitar, desear, vivir. Sobre necesidades, desarrollo humano, crecimiento económico y sostenibilidad. Ed. Los Libros de la Catarata. Madrid.
Stiglitz, Joseph E. (2006) Cómo hacer que funcione la globalización. Ed. Taurus.
Sutcliffe, Bob (2005) 100 imágenes de un mundo desigual. ed. Icaria / Intermón Oxfam.
Vara, Mª Jesús (2006) Estudios sobre género y economía. Ed. Akal. Madrid.

Journals

Ekonomiaz
Información Comercial Española
Papeles de Economía
Economistas
Revista de Economía Mundial

Web addresses

Eurostat: ec.europa.eu/eurostat
International Labour Organisation: ilo.org
Our World in Data: ourworldindata.org
World Bank: worldbank.org/en/home