Political economy

lespo2100  2020-2021  Louvain-la-Neuve

Political economy
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change, in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).
4 credits
30.0 h + 15.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
De Crombrugghe De Picquendaele Alain;
Language
French
Main themes
This course forms the introduction to the fundamental economic problems facing economic agents at an individual and collective level. It will focus on the main concepts and instruments of analysis on which the answers put forward by contemporary economic science are based.
Content
Part I: Introduction to economic analysis 1. The field of economic analysis: Kinds of problem and how to deal with them (micro/macro). 2. Economic choice: Opportunity cost and production opportunities. 3. The comparison of choices: The market and competition. The accounting individual choices by the market, and microeconomics. 4. The overall economic system: The global economy and macroeconomics. Part II: Microeconomics 5. Supply and demand: An initial examination. An explanation of hypotheses and representation of a market; displacements throughout the length of a curve, and displacements of a curve; balance, and the displacements of balance. 6. From the consumer's behaviour to the function of demand. 7. From the producer's behaviour to the function of supply: costs, revenue, profit maximisation, …. 8. The market in perfect competition: Conditions, functioning and proprieties. 9. Other market structures: Monopoly and imperfect competition. 10. Rationing situations: Administered prices and imperfect adjustments. Part III: Macroeconomics 11. The circular flow of revenue: Aggregates, flights and injections. 12. National accounting: The three standpoints, the four agents, and Belgian data. 13. Determining national revenue and the multiplier 14. Currency: A brief history, functions, form and the monetary multiplier. 15. The balance of payments and the exchange rate: Components of the trade balance, and fixed and floating rates of exchange.
Teaching materials
  • Support recommandé (non obligatoire) : de Crombrugghe, Alain (2016) Introduction aux principes de l'économie : Choix et décisions économiques", LLN : De Boeck Supérieur, 688 pp.
Faculty or entity
ESPO


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Minor in Chemistry

Bachelor in History

Additionnal module in Chemistry

Certificat d'université en éthique économique et sociale