Download Economy of Ireland (EC2020/EC202C): Module B

Department of Economics
Trinity College Dublin
Economy of Ireland (EC2020/EC202C): Module B
Examination and Assessment Hand-out: Hilary Term 2015/16
Module B accounts for the remaining 50 per cent of the total marks for EC2020. Of this, 25 percentage points are
allocated to the examination, 25 to the test.
EXAMINATION
The Summer Examination will consist of eight questions, with one question from each block (four from MT and four
below from HT). Four questions must be answered: there will be no sections in the paper. There will also be eight
questions in the Autumn examination. Students here just for HT must do two questions in a special examination
organised for them.
Below are sample questions that can be used as a guide in preparing for the HT test and examination. All of
these topics will be covered in lectures and classes but not necessarily in the core book. Students should keep up to
date with current economic affairs through the business pages of the Irish press, the Financial Times and the
Economist.
E1
E2
F1
F2
G1
G2
Discuss the following, clearly linking the three parts of the question for the examination but treating
separately for test purposes. (i) What determines population size in any country: illustrate your answer with
reference to the Irish experience up to 2016, especially with regard to migration. (ii) Examine the issue of
labour supply and key considerations in the nature of employment in Ireland. (iii) Outline some key features
of unemployment in Ireland, paying particular attention to long-term and youth unemployment/inactivity.
Comment on the measurement/comparison difficulties that arise.
Examine the agri-food sector under three of the following headings: characteristics of agricultural sector,
agricultural policy, food processing and distribution, and food policy issues.
Discuss the causes of and solutions to unemployment, as they apply to any economy, using the following
three divisions and using the latest evidence available in the core book: (i) global factors such as new
technology and increased trade and migration, (ii) labour-market flexibility, such as wages, industrial
relations and employment protection legislation, and (iii) long-term unemployment, such as the operation of
the unemployment payments system and active labour market policies.
What is the economic rationale for state involvement in the education sector? Outline some of the
difficulties of assessing performance of the sector in Ireland, drawing on the most recent evidence readily
available.
(i) What are the difficulties of comparing growth rates of output internationally and over time? Comment on
other measures that could be used to indicate changes in living standards. (ii) What drives productivity
growth (i.e. GDP per person employed) in any economy? Discuss in terms of human capital, physical capital,
institutions, natural resources and technology referring to the Irish case where possible to illustrate the
points you make. (iii) How would you briefly describe the Irish growth experience in the last 10 years and
what are the prospects for growth in Ireland 2016 to 2020 would you argue?
Either. Outline some of the key features of the manufacturing and internationally-traded services sectors and
comment on some policy issues in Ireland with regard to these sectors.
Or: Examine the energy sector, in terms of its importance, provision and performance.
H1
H2
Examine what is the role of the state in providing health services? What in your opinion are the key
economic issues related to health policy in Ireland?
(i) What are the causes of inequality, within and across countries and over time? (ii) What are some of the
advantages and disadvantages of trying to reduce inequality? (iii) Either. Discuss the political economy of
poverty and inequality reduction. Or Key policy efforts and challenges in addressing inequality in Ireland.
TEST
The test will be held on Tuesday March 8th, 2016, 15.20 to 16.35, Edmund Burke Theatre. It will be based on nine
short questions: E1 (i, ii and iii), F1 (i and ii), G1 (ii and iii) and H2 (i and ii). Any five of them will appear on the test,
all five to be answered. This means that you will have maximum 15 minutes to answer each part. In effect the test
consists of five short essays out of nine (titles known in advance) done in examination conditions. Students registered
with the Disability Service can if they wish instead of sitting the test submit the nine short essays (max 400 words per
essay or 3,600 words in total) via email to one of TAs and hard copy (to Economics Dept) by 11.00 on March 8th.
J. O’Hagan, January 2016: www.tcd.ie/economics/staff/johagan/ec2020/