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877-0201-00L 3 Credits WBZ , NDS D-GESS

Economic Foundations for Policy Analysis

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Jan-Egbert Sturm, Prof. Dr. Tobias Schmidt
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:14:11

Abstract

Markets play an important function in modern societies by allocating resources and capital. Yet, important market failures require the intervention of public policy. This module introduces the fundamentals of micro- and macro-economics and thereby lays the foundation for the economic assessment of policy interventions.

Objective

How Markets Function (Microeconomics): Participants (1) understand basic principles, problems and approaches in microeconomics, (2) can analyse and explain simple economic principles in a market using supply and demand graphs, (3) can contrast different market structures and describe firm and consumer behaviour, (4) can identify market failures such as externalities related to market activities and illustrate how these affect the economy as a whole, (5) can address utility maximization and cost minimization problems. How Economic Systems Function (Macroeconomics): Participants understand (1) the behaviour of macroeconomic variables, such as gross domestic product, unemployment and inflation rates, (2) why national economic activity fluctuates, (3) what economic policy can do against unemployment and inflation, (4) what significance international economic relations have for specific countries, such as Switzerland.

Resources

Literature

Course materials can be found on Moodle.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
WBZ , NDS
Frequency
Every two years

Examination

Type
graded semester performance

Registration & Places

Priority: Registration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Economic Foundations for Policy Analysis
  • 22.01 Date 09:15-17:00 (HG E 1.1)
  • 22.01 Date 09:15-17:00 (HG E 23)
  • 23.01 Date 09:15-17:00 (RZ D 8)
  • 24.01 Date 09:15-17:00 (RZ D 8)
  • 06.02 Date 09:15-17:00 (RZ D 8)
  • 07.02 Date 09:15-17:00 (RZ D 8)
40 h semesterly

Offered In