Checking date: 19/05/2025 19:02:35


Course: 2025/2026

Principles of economics
(17685)
Bachelor in History and Politics (Study Plan 2018) (Plan: 394 - Estudio: 352)


Coordinating teacher: NOBRE DE SOUSA MORAIS PEREIRA, SONIA CECILIA

Department assigned to the subject: Economics Department

Type: Compulsory
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Objectives
The subject Principles of Economics introduces the student into the rudiments of economic analysis so she (he) can start to think as an economist. To achieve this, a complete overview of the economic system is given. It is explained how individual agents relate to each other (consumers and producers) and how their interactions in the market give rise to economic aggregates at the macro level (production of goods and services, price levels, distribution of income). Emphasis is placed on consumer choice (demand) and producer supply in an institutional framework (laws and governments) conditioning their decisions and facilitating exchange relations. Skills: - Identify, organize and analyze relevant economic information in a critic and systematic way. - Clearly state economic problems assessing their scope and advancing viable solutions. - Understand the relationship between economy and society in a world strongly influenced by technological progress and climate change. Attitudes: - Respect for economic facts as a basis for decision making both in private and public policies. - Interest in other persons' ideas and willingness to express own opinions with grounds on empirical references. - Enthusiasm to take advantage from training and entrepreneurship opportunities throughout professional life.
Learning Outcomes
K1: Identify the key historical processes of history, from Antiquity to globalization, recognizing their political and social implications K2: To know the historical evolution of political institutions, from Antiquity to the present day, identifying their impact on government systems K5: Describe the actors, institutions, and processes that shape international relations, explaining their influence on the global landscape K6: To compare historical economic systems, relating them to their socio-political context from Antiquity to the present day K7: Relate social movements and struggles for civil rights to changes in social structures throughout history and analyze changes in cultural expressions (art, literature, religion) and their link to historical and political processes S1: Build solid historical and political arguments from a rigorous documentary base S2: Apply logical and creative thinking in solving complex historiographical and political problems S3: Experiment with research methodologies, simulating historical or political situations relevant to their analysis S4: Simulate geopolitical scenarios and international conflicts, demonstrating understanding of their implications S5: Demonstrate academic writing skills by crafting essays and articles based on original research S6: Perform critical analyses of historical and geopolitical maps, relating them to historical events and processes S8: Creating innovative approaches to address historical and political problems S9: Observe historical and political phenomena with a critical and contextual perspective C1: Have critical and analytical skills evaluating historical sources and political texts to interpret their relevance in real contexts C2: Solve complex problems by adapting historical and political knowledge to propose effective solutions in contemporary situations C3: Actively participate in interdisciplinary projects to analyze historical and political phenomena from multiple perspectives
Description of contents: programme
The syllabus of Principles of Economics aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of economic analysis, distinguishing between microeconomics and macroeconomics. 1. Introduction: The basic economic problem: scarcity. Microeconomics vs. Macroeconomics. Technology, population, and growth. I. MICROECONOMICS 2. Scarcity, work, and choice 3. Social interaction and inequality 4. Supply and demand: Price-taking and competitive markets 5. The firm and its customers 6. Markets, efficiency, and public policy II. MACROECONOMICS 7. Banks, money, and the credit market 8. Economic fluctuations and unemployment 9. Unemployment and fiscal policy 10. Inflation, unemployment, and monetary policy 11. Aggregate demand and supply: The Keynesian and Neoclassical perspectives 12. Inequality
Learning activities and methodology
The teaching methodology is based on two types of sessions: 1. Master classes, where the subject is given with graphical support (slides). To facilitate learning the students have access to audiovisual materials and basic texts of reference to complete and deepen the topics explained in class. 2. Practical classes to smaller groups of students, where they can take a more active part in solving the proposed exercises. In these classes student¿s participation and solving of problem sets are graded (continuous assessment). Student participation in class enables them to analyze problems and communicate solutions, encouraging the exchange of opinions.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination/test 60
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 40

Calendar of Continuous assessment


Extraordinary call: regulations
Basic Bibliography
  • -Mankiw,. N. G. Principios de Economía, Thomson Paraninfo,. 6th Edition,. Madrid, 2010.
  • Mankiw,. N. G. . Principios de Economía, . Thomson Paraninfo,. 6th Edition,.. Madrid, 2010.
  • Openstax team. ¿ Principles of Economics. https://openstax.org/details/books/principles-economics-3e.
  • Openstax team. Principles of Economics-3e Edition by the Openstax team.. https://openstax.org/details/books/principles-economics-3e.
  • Paul Krugman, Robin Wells y Kathryn Graddy, . . Fundamentos de Economía,.. Fundamentos de Economía,.. 2012
  • Paul Krugman, Robin Wells y Kathryn Graddy, . . Fundamentos de Economía,. . Editorial Reverté 2ª edición, . 2012..
  • Stiglitz J, and C. E. Walsh: . . Microeconomía,. . Ariel, . 2008.
  • Stiglitz J, and C. E. Walsh: . . Microeconomía,. . Ariel, . 2008..
  • Stiglitz J.: .. Macroeconomía, . . Ariel, . . 2004
  • Stiglitz J.: .. Macroeconomía, . . Ariel, . 2004.
  • The Economy 1.0/. La Economía by by the CORE team. https://www.core- econ.org/ebooks/. CORE .
  • . Principles of Economics, 3e Edition by the Openstax team.. https://openstax.org/details/books/principles-economics-3e.
  • The Economy 1.0/La Economía by by the CORE team.. https://www.core- econ.org/ebooks/. econ.org/ebooks/.
  • https://. www.core-. econ.org/.

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.