Economics - BA (Hons)

University of Essex

### **What is the BA Economics?****The BA Economics is a three-year degree, or four years with an optional placement or study abroad year.**You’ll explore how economies function, how people make decisions, and how policy shapes everything from inequality and development to global markets. Through theory, data, and applied learning, you’ll develop the analytical insight to understand the world’s economic challenges.### **Why this course**The BA Economics degree gives you the tools to understand how individuals, firms, and governments behave - and the power to use that insight to make smarter decisions in your own life and future career. Economics isn’t just about numbers it’s about people. You’ll explore how economic choices shape wellbeing, opportunity, inequality, and everyday life.You’ll study microeconomics, macroeconomics, public policy, development, labour markets, and behavioural economics, building a rigorous foundation for understanding the systems that structure society and human behaviour.You’ll be joining a department whose research informs government decision-making, public policy, and international development. You’ll explore how research contributes to national debates on labour markets, financial systems, behavioural change, and inequality, so you can see how economic theory connects to real-world challenges.Throughout your degree, you’ll develop the skills employers value most: economic analysis, data interpretation, evaluating policy options, and applying economic frameworks to issues such as inflation, climate change, automation, migration, and wellbeing. You won’t just learn how the economy works - you’ll learn how to improve it.You can also add an optional placement or study abroad year, applying your economic training in professional or international settings and expanding your analytical confidence and global perspective.By graduation, you’ll have the economic reasoning and analytical skills to pursue early career paths in government, business, public policy, or postgraduate study.

Economics