Economics

You will have the chance to engage with cutting-edge research on issues such as the macroeconomics of climate change, the impact of shadow banking on financial stability, the role of industrial ecosystems, the causes and effects of inequality, the importance of environmental justice for climate-aligned development, and the role of gender in economics.

In macroeconomic modules, you will engage with different schools of macroeconomic thought on issues like inflation, unemployment, inequality, money creation, climate change and macroeconomic policy. In microeconomic modules, different theoretical perspectives on issues like market failures, risk, market structures and production are compared and contrasted. Economic modelling is at the core of these modules.

In econometric modules, you will receive training in modern econometric methods and learn how to use these to examine real-world issues. Optional modules like ‘China and World Development’, ‘Economic development of Africa’ and ‘Political economy of development and change in the Middle East’ provide regional perspectives, based on the tradition of SOAS. Other optional modules, such as the ‘Economics of Environment and Development’, ‘International Finance’ and ‘Green Finance’ will give you the opportunity to obtain a deeper understanding of the interactions between economic, financial and ecological systems and engage with recent policy debates.

R coding is used across several modules. You will learn how to use R to simulate economic models, analyse economic policies and conduct econometric analysis.

Why study MSc Economics at SOAS?

• we are ranked 8th in UK for student satisfaction with teaching (Guardian League Tables 2022)
• 5th in London (Complete University Guide 2022)
• it provides rigorous training in both mainstream and heterodox economics
• it makes explicit links between economic theories and the real world, using pluralist and political economy perspectives
• it provides economic knowledge for specific regions, drawing on the rich regional expertise of SOAS
• ecological and gendered issues are taught across both core and specialised modules
• it equips you with quantitative skills for economic analysis and provides a unique training in developing codes in R