Teaching plan for the course unit

 

 
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General information

 

Course unit name: Economic Growth

Course unit code: 366758

Academic year: 2025-2026

Coordinator: Fabien Christopher Mathieu Petit

Department: Department of Econometrics, Statistics and Applied Economics

Credits: 6

Single program: S

 

 

Estimated learning time

Total number of hours 150

 

Face-to-face and/or online activities

60
 

-  Lecture with practical component

Face-to-face

  

45
 

-  Problem-solving class

Face-to-face

  

15

Supervised project

40

Independent learning

50

 

 

Recommendations

 

Students are recommended to have taken and passed the other subjects in Macroeconomics.


Further recommendations

Students must have a good knowledge of mathematics (infinitesimal calculus or calculus).

 

 

Competences / Learning outcomes to be gained during study

 

   -

Ability to work in a team (capacity to collaborate with others and contribute to a common project, capacity to work in cross-disciplinary and multicultural teams).
   -

Capacity to manage and allocate resources in the private and public sectors.
   -

Capacity to analyse organizations and the environment in which they operate.
   -

Ability to produce critical analyses of economic theories and models.

Learning objectives

 

Referring to knowledge

— Acquire a basic understanding of how the aggregate economy operates.

— Identify and explain the engines of economic growth.

— Describe and evaluate the limits of economic growth.

— Understand the role played by population in shaping economic growth.

 

Referring to abilities, skills

— Apply simple mathematical models to identify and analyse the engines of economic growth.

— Integrate new ideas or insights into economic growth within simple mathematical models.

 

Referring to attitudes, values and norms

— Develop a reflective and critical perspective on socio-economic phenomena.

— Apply critical thinking skills when engaging with the material presented on the course. Note: Students are encouraged to participate actively in class and to propose topics for debate. Where no suggestions are forthcoming, the lecturer will provide themes to guide the discussion.

— Learn to work collaboratively as part of a team.

 

 

Teaching blocks

 

1. Introduction

2. Measuring GDP and Economic Growth

3. Economic Growth Facts

4. The Solow Model and the Balanced Growth Path

5. Ideas and Productivity

6. Comparative Economic Development

7. Population and Resources

 

 

Teaching methods and general organization

 

This subject implements the type-2 teaching model applied by the UB Faculty of Economics and Business and, as such, combines three types of activity.

First, students are required to attend three types of face-to-face session:

a) Lectures, in which the core concepts of each topic and the theoretical tools for analysing them are introduced.

b) Practical sessions, in which students work on a range of activities: including, continuous assessment tasks, exercises, and the discussion of assigned readings on topics related to the lectures.

c) Practical sessions, in which students collaborate on a range of applied tasks in teams.

Second, students are required to complete a series of directed learning activities (outside class hours): including, readings from the recommended bibliography and exercises and assignments set in class.

Third, students are required to undertake activities of independent learning: including, reviewing class materials, consolidating key concepts, consulting additional references and revising for the continuous assessment tests and the final examination.

Student workload is divided more or less equally across the three types of activity so that they can expect to dedicate 3–4 hours per week to each.

 

 

Official assessment of learning outcomes

 

The continuous mode of assessment is based on the evaluation of sets of different problems (20% of the final grade), a midterm examination (40%), and a group project (40%).

A minimum mark of 5 out of 10 on the examination is required to pass the subject.

 

Examination-based assessment

The single mode of assessment consists of a final examination worth 100% of the final grade. This includes both theoretical questions and problem-solving exercises.

A minimum mark of 5 out of 10 on the examination is required to pass the subject.

Students may opt to forgo continuous assessment and sit this final examination instead. This decision must be made known on the day of the exam.

 

 

Reading and study resources

Check availability in Cercabib

Book

JONES, C.I. (Charles I. y VOLLRATH, D., 2013. Introduction to Economic Growth. 3rd ed. New York ;: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393919172. 

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