Örebro University School of Business

Course Syllabus

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall
- further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
- develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
- develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

After the course the student will have the knowledge and expertise to know
1. How societal effects of investments and programme interventions can be measured and evaluated aside financial return and risk as a basis for decision on investment, regulation or programme selection
2. Content of and difference between economic evaluation methods (cost benefit, cost effectiveness, cost utility)
3. How different types of risk and uncertainty can be considered in such analysis
4. Plan, conduct and communicate a societal economic evaluation.

The course starts with an introduction to "impact investment", that is investemt where societal impact is considered alongside financial return and risk. Next comes an introduction to identification and estimation of impact by randomized controlled trials and regression analysis, followed by a thorough study of cost benefit and cost utility analysis. A number of complex issues that arise in practical implementation are further studies, such as valuation of health, safety and environmental impacts, choice of investment horizon, rate of discount and risk premium, valuation of low probability events with disastrous consequences; issues that are related to economic theory, behavioural science, econometric analysis and ethics/philosophy.

The main moments of the course are

- Impact investment
- Basics of causal inference (randomised controlled trials and regression analysis)
- Cost-benefit and cost-utility analysis
- Valuation of non-market-priced services
- Rate of discount, risk, low probability events with disastrous consequences
- Doing and discussing an economic evaluation study.

Lectures and laboratory sessions.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

According to regulations on grading systems for first- and second-cycle education (vice-chancellor's decision 2010-10-19, reg. no. CF 12-540/2010), one of the following grades is to be used: fail, pass, or pass with distinction. The vice-chancellor or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special reasons.

Grades used on course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

FINAL GRADE
To achieve the final grade Pass the student must Pass all the examination parts. The final grade Pass with distinction is based on an aggregation of credits on both written examination and the assignment.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

First-cycle courses of 75 credits in Economics including an independent project of 15 credits as well as Statistics, Basic Course, 15 credits. Or first-cycle courses of 90 credits in Business Administration including an independent project of 15 credits as well as Statistics, Basic Course, 15 credits and Economics, Basic Course, 30 credits. The applicant must also have qualifications corresponding to the course "English 6" or "English B" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

The course will be given in English.


Reading List and Other Teaching Materials

Required Reading

3-5 vetenskaplig artiklar kommer att läggas till litteraturlistan.

3-5 journal papers will also be added to the literature list.

See this Course Syllabus as PDF