| CODE | SWP3131 | ||||||
| TITLE | Social and Economic Policy in Malta | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit reviews social policy from an economic perspective. It presents an extensive introduction of the role of economics in social policy and focuses on the economic role and implications of 5 important social policy elements namely, poverty and income inequality, health, housing, education, and employment. Following this review, the unit proceeds by examining the situation of these pillars in Malta and the European Union. Topics covered include: - Introduction to Social Policy; - Introduction to Economics; - Social Economics, Politics, and Policy; - Economics of income inequality, health, housing, education, and employment; - Cost-Benefit Analysis; - Determinants of Social Policy; - Social Policy in Malta and in the European Union. Study-unit Aims: - Assist students to apply basic economic models to understand the role and implications of social policy; - Make students aware of the important impact that the structure and development of the economy has on social policy; - Make students aware of the cost of social policy by introducing the basic analytical concepts of public sector budgeting and the important role of CBA in understanding how money is allocated. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain basic economic and social policy concepts and be able to apply them; - Analyse the link between the economy and social policy and of its implications; - Interpret and analyze economic indicators; - Evaluate the role of the state in the Maltese Economy; - Describe and explain the economic and social dimensions of an ageing population and of migration trends. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify how economic development influences social policy; - Quantify and measure the implications of different social policy decisions; - Analyse the role and implications of social policy from a more comprehensive approach. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - BARR, N. 2012. Economics of the Welfare State, OUP Oxford. - EUROPEAN COMMISSION. 2014. Guide to Cost Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects, Publications Office of the European Union. - GRAND, J. L. & ROBINSON, R. V. F. 2016. Economics of Social Problems, Palgrave Macmillan UK. - ROSNER, P. 2005. The Economics of Social Policy, Edward Elgar. - STOCK, W. A. 2012. Introduction to Economics: Social Issues and Economic Thinking, Wiley Global Education. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Stephanie Fabri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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