Department of Economics
Trinity College Dublin
Economy of Ireland (EC2020)
Examination and Assessment Handout: Michaelmas Term 2015/16
Module A accounts for 50 per cent of the total marks for the course. Of this 50 per cent, 25 percentage points are
allocated to the examination, 25 to the test. For students doing only Module A, 25 percentage points are allocated to
test and 25 to essays (see below).
Module B accounts for the remaining 50 per cent of the total marks for the course. Of this 50 per cent, 25 percentage
points are allocated to the examination, 25 to the test.
EXAMINATION HANDOUT
The Summer Examination will consist of eight questions, with one question from each block (four below for MT and
four more to follow for HT). Four questions must be answered. There will also be eight questions in the Autumn
examination. The four questions in the Scholarship Economic Policy paper examination relating to this course will be
based on Blocks A-D below. Any three questions in the Economic Policy paper can be answered. Lecture and class
material (slides and more important note taking) is essential in relation to answering all questions.
Below are sample questions that can be used as a clear guide in preparing for the MT test and examinations. All of
these topics will be covered in lectures and classes but not necessarily in the core book. Where there are several parts to
a question each part carries equal marks and students should attempt as much as possible to answer the question as an
integrated whole. Students should keep up to date with current economic affairs through the business pages of the Irish
press, the Financial Times and the Economist.
A1
A2
B1
B2
C1
C2
Why is it worth studying economic history? Illustrate your answer with reference to some examples from pre1922 Ireland.
In relation to historical economic events and policy in Ireland, comment on the following, bearing in mind the
reasons for looking at history at all: (i) the 1920s and 1930s, (ii) 1939 to 1960 (iii) and from 1979 to 2015.
Discuss the following. (i) Are people the best judges of their own welfare and if not who else is? Who should
be included in arriving at the aggregate welfare for Ireland: immigrants, the Irish abroad, future generations?
(ii) Comment critically on the links between GDP per capita and human welfare. (iii) Examine critically the
concept of competitiveness and why it matters so much for a small regional economy like Ireland’s, especially
as we are now in the euro zone.
(i) Discuss the principles of efficiency, equity and simplicity in relation to a tax system. ((ii) Illustrate the
points you make with reference to corporation taxes and taxes on income.
(i) What is the rationale in principle for government in a market economy? (ii) Why must some of these
functions be applied increasingly at a global level? (iii) What further issues arise in relation to EU integration?
Either: Discuss the following. (i) Definitions of openness, non-traded sector, and roles of traded and nontraded sectors. (ii) Reasons for regulation. (iii) Approaches to and difficulties with regulation.
Or, Provide a broad overview of policy in relation to competition, and regulation of networks and natural
monopolies, in Ireland.
D1
D2
Comment on the main components of state expenditure in Ireland. Discuss the size of government as an issue,
and in particular what the causes of variations in this size are, including the impact of the political process.
Discuss the key policy issues in relation to the following, drawing on the principles that should underlie any
good tax system: (i) VAT and excise duties; (ii) property taxes; and (iii) national debt as deferred taxation.
TEST
The test will be held in Teaching Week 8, 17th November, 15.15 to 16.30, Burke Theatre. There will be no
EC2040 lecture at 15.00 on that day. The test will be based on nine sub-questions: three in A2, B1 and C1 above.
Any five of them will appear on the test, all five to be answered. This means that you will have maximum 15
minutes to answer each part (duration of test 75 minutes). In effect the test consists of short essays (titles known
in advance) done in examination conditions. Students registered with the disability service will not have to take
the tests but instead submit essays, prior to the start of the tests, on the nine questions set for the test, with a
strict maximum of 400 words per answer, that is overall no more than 3,600 words.
ESSAYS
These apply to students taking the course for MT only. Each student must do two essays, not more than 1,200 words
each in length from A1, B2, C2, D1 and D2, due in by the second day of HT (Tuesday 19th January). The test accounts
for 50 per cent of the marks, with the essays accounting for the other 50 per cent.
J. O’Hagan,
September 2015
www.tcd.ie/economics/staff/johagan/ec2020/