Admission requirements
None.
Description
The European Union has achieved a unique level of economic integration. The six founding members initially focused on trade integration, but the cooperation widened to currently 27 member states, and it deepened into a large single market, where countries have given up parts of their economic sovereignty in favour of an intense economic cooperation at the EU level. The departure of the United Kingdom from the EU also pointed to the limits of integration. In this course, we discuss the development and the landmarks of this integration process. We will focus on the economic analysis of international economic processes and economic policies and we will discuss the milestones of the integration process, among which the realization of the internal market and the creation of the euro zone.
At the end of this course, the student will have a better understanding of the economic processes and policies in the European Union. He or she will be able to link legal and political developments in the EU to economic developments and will be able to present the relevant discussions.
If you come from a programme other than Law and Economics, we recommend you to have taken a basic course in economics before enrolling in this course.
Course objectives
In this course, the student will attain knowledge and an understanding of the issues in the field of Economic Policy in the EU. The student will be trained to independently analyse these issues.
After completing the course you will be able to:
Recognize and define important current issues in the major areas of European Economic Integration.
Identify the required steps to progress towards further integration.
Summarize economic policies in the European Union and interpret these policies in terms of economic efficiency and economic interests.
Identify the benefits and costs of the single currency in the process of integration and its effects on the policy making within the member states.
Use graphs to analyse the process of economic integration in the EU.
Present a topic related to the economics of the European Union and analyse its weaknesses and points for improvement.
Timetable
Check MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Number of (2 hour) lectures: 7
Name(s) of lecturer(s): dr. J.F. de Kort
Required preparation by students: Reading the prescribed material
Seminars
Number of (2 hour) seminars: 4 or 5
Name(s) of instructor(s): dr. S. Cicognani
Required preparation by students: Preparing the exercises that are indicated in the course syllabus that will be available on Brightspace.
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
Written exam (80%)
Presentation (20%)
Presentation
The presentation will be in groups, and it will touch upon a topic chosen by the students, which must be related to the economics of the European Union. The students must provide a description of the situation at stake and also use some critical thinking to discuss the points for improvement of the current situation.
Participation in the presentation is obligatory to partake in the written final examination.
Only the written final exam can be retaken, whereby the grade for the presentation remains valid.
If the course is not completed with a passing grade within the academic year, any grades obtained for the group work and its assignments will expire by the end of the academic year.
Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) for the course, the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures, the seminars and all other instructions thatare part of the course.
Regulation retake passed exams
In this course it is possible to retake an exam that has been passed (cf. art. 4.1.8 and further of the Course and Examination Regulations). Students who have passed the exam may retake the final written assessment (test) of the course if they meet certain requirements. For more information, go to the website > ‘Law’ tab > ‘Retake a passed exam’.
Reading list
Required course materials
Literature:
Richard Baldwin and Charles Wyplosz, The Economics of European Integration, 7th edition, McGrawHill Education, 2022
Articles discussed in class
Course information guide:
- See reader.
Reader:
- Economic Policy in the EU, available through Brightspace.
Recommended course materials
None.
Registration
Registration for courses and exams takes place via MyStudymap. If you do not have access to MyStudymap (guest students), look here (under the Law-tab) for more information on the registration procedure in your situation.
A block of seats will be reserved for exchange students and will be registered through the international office.
Contact
Co-ordinator: [dr. J.F. de Kort]
Work address: Kamerlingh Onnes Gebouw, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, room B2.05
Contact information: through the secretariat of the Economics unit
Telephone number: +31 (0)71 527 7831
Email: j.f.dekort@law.leidenuniv.nl
Institution/division
Institute: Institute for Tax Law and Economics
Department: Economics
Room number secretariat: B2.07
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00-12.00
Telephone number secretariat: +31 (0)71 527 7756
Email: economie@law.leidenuniv.nl