Module: Industrial Economics

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Industrial Economics
Module Code	EF301 (ITS) / ECO1009 (Banner)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
Module Co-ordinator	Declan Curran
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None
Array

Description

This module builds on the Introduction to Microeconomics, by adopting industrial, regional, national and international perspectives in answering questions about the factors determining the performance of firms. Both individual firms and groups of firms - in sub-sectors and sectors, in particular locations, and in networks - are examined. Participants in the module will be aided in developing a wide knowledge of the discipline through many short questions. In depth understanding will be obtained through a focus on a fundamental essay question on each chapter.

Learning Outcomes

1. explain how industrial economics and organization theories and their application began and developed;
2. choose appropriate tools and frameworks for analysing different aspects of organizations and industries;
3. identify where game theory is applicable to decision making in oligopolistic industries;
4. compare and contrast different theories of the firm in terms of their power to explain the nature and development of organizations;
5. explain the determinants of market structure, theoretically, nationally and in the European Union;
6. judge the effectiveness of the main concepts and theories on spatial concentration of economic activity;
7. critically evaluate the various approaches to innovation in organizations, industries and regions.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Directed learning	50	Reading prescribed texts and answering questions on them
Assignment Completion	27	Term paper
Directed learning	24	Preparation and practice for examination
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction
Overview - brief summary of the material to be covered in the module

Perspectives on Industries
The origin and evolution of the Structure-Conduct-Performance framework will be explained; alternatives, including the approaches of Porter and Best will be compared

Game Theory
The importance of oligopolistic structures in modern economies will be demonstrated. Game theory and its contribution to the analysis of oligopoly will be demonstrated

Neoclassical Theories of the Firm
Having already been introduced in Introduction to Ecnonomics, these theories will be reviewed and recent developments explained

Other Theories of the Firm
The critiques of neoclassical theories of the firm have led to the development of a number of other theories, some complementary to and others alternative to neoclassical theories. These will be introduced and their application demonstrated

Neoclassical Market Structures
Most of these were covered in Introduction to Ecnomics. They will be reviewed and critical questions addressed

Oligopoly
In this part of the module the variations on the basic Cournot oligopoly model will be introduced, and the need for such variations explained

Location
Location, including co-location, is extremely important for industrial development. In this section major theories including those of industrial districts and clusters will be covered

Technological Change and Innovation
The traditional theories of tech change and innovation have been revised in recent years and evolutionary theories, including for example, innovation systems theories, have been introduced. These will be considered, and related to other parts of the module, for example location.

Multinational Enterprises and Globalization
The existence and importance of MNEs are fundamental to local and global developments of industries. The relationships between MNEs, globalization and local economic development will be discussed.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Individual assignment, with assignment topic provided by lecturer	30%	Week 7

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Andreosso, B. and Jacobson, D.: 2005, Industrial Economics and Organisation: A European Perspective., Second, All, McGraw-Hill, UK, 10: 0-07-710422-6

Other Resources

None