Economy

Year
1
Academic year
2020-2021
Code
01741576
Subject Area
Economy
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

Lectures on the different contents of the course and tutorials based on solving problem sets made available to the students at the beginning of the academic year.

Learning Outcomes

This introductory course in economics uses the principles of economic analysis to provide students with a better understanding of fundamental economic problems thus being able to analyze and understand from an economic point of view problems faced by individuals and societies, applying basic economic concepts, and also applying economic reasoning to the analysis of current events.

The students should acquire a basic understanding of economics, that is a level of economic literacy sufficient to understand how the economy operates, as well as how some government policies affect the performance of the economy, and perceive that economic institutions are an important element of any larger social system, and major social changes are often influenced by economic forces and so economics is important for mastery of related disciplines such as social work.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The scope and method of economics

I.1 – The economic problem: scarcity and choice

I.2 – Economic systems and the basic economic problems

II – The organization and functioning of markets

II.1 – Consumer choice theory

II.2 – Production theory

II.3 – Costs of production theory

II.4 – Demand and supply

III – Basic macroeconomic concepts

III.1 – The circular flow of activity and national accounts

III.2 – Consumption, investment and economic fluctuations

III.3 – The multiplier model

IV. The State’s economic functions

IV.1. Efficiency

IV.2. Equity

IV.3. Growth and macroeconomic stability

V. Taxes and public expenses

V.1. The state’s intervention in the economy

V.2. The Portuguese public sector

V.3. The Portuguese fiscal system

VI. Efficiency vs. Equity

VI.1. Sources of inequalities

VI.2. Policies against poverty

VI.3. The Portuguese social security and social intervention system.

Head Lecturer(s)

António Manuel Portugal Duarte

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam (100%) or Midtern exam (2-75%) + In-class problem solving (25%): 100.0%

Bibliography

SAMUELSON, Paul A., William D. Nordhaus, Economia, 18ª ed., Lisboa, Editora McGraw-Hill de Portugal, 2005.

Mankiw, N. Gregory, Principles of Economics, International Edition, South-Western College, 2009.

Pereira, Paulo Trigo; Afonso, António; Arcanjo, Manuela e Santos, José Carlos Gomes Economia e Finanças Públicas. Lisboa:

Escolar Editora, 2005.

DUARTE, Adelaide, Apontamentos sobre o circuito e contabilidade nacional, FEUC, Coimbra 2007.

DUARTE, Adelaide e Simões, Marta, Séries temporais – uma introdução, FEUC, Coimbra 2008.

RAMOS, Pedro Nogueira, CONTAS NACIONAIS: Um breve texto introdutório, FEUC, Coimbra.