Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

The course covers key microeconomics issues, with a view to providing an integrated overview of microeconomics from both the theoretical and policy perspectives. One of the key objectives of the course is to introduce the microeconomic concepts from a variety of approaches, across a variety of heterodox and mainstream views, as well as to link the theoretical perspectives with different methodologies and analytical traditions. Another key objective is to situate microeconomics within the context of the history of economic thought as well as in the context of the debates and divisions between micro- and macroeconomics.

The course will involve students developing a critical understanding of the different perspectives within microeconomics, the debates emerging from ideology, assumptions, methodology as well as the divisions between the micro and macro-economic perspectives. The course will expose the students to a range of different styles of academic and policy analysis. Students will be expected to draw on their previous quantitative and qualitative skills together with their theoretical and policy knowledge to critically evaluate and reflect on the various ideas and debates in their presentations, essay and exam work.

At the end of the course, students should display knowledge of the relevant theoretical arguments and debates, connect these to a range of methodological approaches, and draw on the empirical literature/examples/case studies to support their views. Students should also be able to understand the role of microeconomics in policy-making and be able to critically engage with the policy debates with particular emphasis on industrial, competition, privatisation and trade policy in developing countries.

The course covers aspects of theoretical analysis as well as an assessment of policy relevant to each of the themes. The first set of lectures will focus on microeconomic theories through an examination of the literature on the role of information, theory of the firm and small and medium sized enterprises, global commodity and value chain analysis, as well as exploring the theoretical underpinnings of industrialisation and the role of manufacturing. After the mid-term break and submission of one of the two essays, the second set of lectures look at the theory - policy nexus from both the perspectives of industrial policy, competition and regulation, resource-based industrialisation, trade, development finance, and innovation and technology in economic development.

Typically each lecture will be structured into two parts. The first part will consist of a 30 – 45 minute pre-recorded session uploaded onto Canvass. The second part of the lecture will begin with a 10 minute presentation by the student doing the presentation of the day followed by a 30 minute moderated live discussion on Canvass or MS Teams. The presenting student is to prepare and distribute a 1-page document that outlines their argument on the topic and is expected to draw (at least) on the required readings assigned for the topic.

The assessment strategy in the course comprises the following components:
Class Presentation [10%]
Take-home Essay [20%]
Written Sit-down test [30%]
Sit-down Examination [40%]

Each week, a student delivers a 15 minute presentation followed by a 30 minute moderated discussion.
Weekly consultations are available to students by appointment.

Consumer Theory and Policy
Theory of the Firm; and SMME Driven Development
African Industrialisation, Growth and Development
Theory and Practice of International Trade
Global Value Chains/Global Commodity Chains
Agro-processing Industrialisation
Finance for Industrial development
National Systems of Innovation
Industrial Policy
Resource-based Industrialisation

This course will be held in Johannesburg.