Module description
This course uses economics to understand crime. It examines when criminals choose to commit crimes, how they respond to law enforcement, and how criminal markets are organised. The course will examine current and historical episodes of crime around the world. Anja Shortland is an internationally renowned expert on piracy and kidnap for ransom. She is looking forward to discussing the best working economics of crime and sharing her latest research – including chapters from her book “Kidnapping: Inside the Ransom Business”. The course will appeal to students who are interested in economics and enjoy the economic way of thinking. It is designed to encourage students to apply the economic framework to unusual - but important - real world problems. The course does not use highly formal models or advanced statistics, but largely relies on graphical analysis and analytic narratives. Seminars are reading-intensive and discussion-based. Students who do not complete the readings each week will struggle to do well.
Assessment details
'An appropriate assessment pattern will be set which may include but not limited to one or several of the following; Written coursework, group work, unseen timed examinations, participation etc'
Educational aims & objectives
The goals of this module are as follows: - To introduce students to the tools of economic analysis that is most relevant for understanding criminal behaviour. - To develop an understanding of how the economic way of thinking can be used to analyse both historical and contemporary episodes of crime. - To provide students with basic tools for understanding statistical research findings. - To understand what is unique about illicit markets compared to legal markets. - To enable students to draw out the broader implication of their analyses of crime for politics and policy - making.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students should be able to: - Understand how the tools of economic analysis can be used to understand various aspects of crime. - Use theories about institutions and governance to understand various aspects of organized Crime. -Analyse how different criminal markets are governed. - Understand the implications of economic analysis for public policy on crime.