Syllabus Information

1.1. Introduction

The contents of the course “Spanish economy” are basic in the training of a student of the degree in Business Administration and Management. The course is part of the module “Economic context and public intervention”, is defined as compulsory and is worth 6 ECTS.

It combines theory and practice and aims to offer a global view of the Spanish economic structure and how it compares with the international context.

1.2. Recommendations to take this course

The approach of the course “Spanish Economy” is both theoretical and practical. To be successful, the students are recommended to work on it steadily, which implies attending lectures and seminars on a regular basis, solving the proposed exercises, working in teams and supporting their work with the use of statistical sources. There are no prerequisites for this course, although the knowledge acquired in related courses in Macroeconomics, Statistics and Mathematics will be helpful

1.3. Context and importance of this course in the degree

“Spanish economy” is taught in the second semester of the second year of the degree in Business Administration and Management. It is the only subject in the degree that relates strictly to the Spanish economy, and it will certainly help the student to better deal with further courses.

1.4. Activities and key dates

The activities and key dates will be communicated via the e-learning platform (ADD) of the Universidad de Zaragoza and at the presentation for each group at the beginning of the second semester.

The official hours and dates of the final exams can be found on the web pages of the centres at which the course is offered.

2.1. Learning goals

The student, in order to pass the course, will have to show her/his competence in the following skills:

1. Understands the concepts and theories that explain and analyse the main factors of growth for the Spanish economy
2. Understands the concepts and theories that explain and analyse the main productive sectors in the Spanish economy
3. Correctly uses economic and statistical indicators
4. Handles and properly interprets the reports from the main national and international economic institutions
5. Delimits the gross domestic product components with precision
6. Integrates the knowledge acquired so that it allows the elaboration of satisfactory advice to firms and institutions on the analysis of the Spanish economic situation
7. Applies the course contents to the resolution of cases or practical exercises from economic reality
8. Takes decisions following the conclusions derived from the analysis in the course
9. Adapts the acquired knowledge to new situations, new scenarios or, in general, to the economic situation of Spain at different moments in time

2.2. Importance of learning goals

The skills acquired through “Spanish Economy” are critical for the full development of the professional activity of a graduate in Business Administration and Management because the evolution of the national economy is key to any business activity. It is crucial for the student to learn to adapt her/his knowledge to new situations, given the changing nature of the economic environment.

3.1. Aims of the course

The aim of the course is to know, analyse and interpret the Spanish economy in the medium and long term, providing the student with a joint vision of the different economic and institutional aspects.

To do this, the contents are divided into three modules. The first analyses the process of economic growth and, more specifically, the growth determinants in the Spanish economy. The second focuses on the analysis of productive sectors and the evolution of competitiveness, which includes its relationship with the Spanish foreign sector. The third deals with institutional aspects: the labour market, the financial market, the public sector and the effects of European monetary integration on the Spanish economy.

3.2. Competences

1. Writing advisory reports on specific situations related to markets, economic sectors and organizations or firms
2. Understanding and applying professional criteria and scientific rigour/precision to the solving of economic, firm or organizational problems
3. Ability to analyse and synthesize
4. Searching for and assessing information from a variety of sources
5. Being autonomous in his/her learning and training
6. Applying knowledge to practice

4.1. Assessment tasks (description of tasks, marking system and assessment criteria)

The student will prove that he/she has achieved the expected learning results by means of the following assessment tasks:

The assessment system for the course is global and has the following features:

The student may choose one of the following options in both sittings:

Option A: The student is offered the possibility of taking an exam on the content of the practical seminars completed during the course in the month of May (3 points), and a final test on the rest of the course contents at the end of the semester (7 points).

The mark for students choosing this option will be calculated as follows:

• The practical exam may include open and multiple choice questions about the practical contents of the course (maximum 3 points). In the case of open-ended questions, three aspects will be assessed: the structure and clarity of the content, the completeness of the content and the absence of formal errors.
• The final exam may include open and multiple choice questions (maximum 7 points) mainly about the theoretical content of the course. In the case of open-ended questions, three aspects will be assessed: the structure and clarity of the content, the completeness of the content and the absence of formal errors.
• To be able to add together the marks of the two exams, the student must pass both of them.

In order to exclude the contents of the practical exam from the final test and to be able to add together the marks of the two exams the student must obtain a minimum mark (1.5 points out of 3) that will enable him/her to sit the final test. If this minimum mark is not reached, the student can take the global test described in Option B.

The final exam (7 points) will be held on the dates indicated for each sitting in the academic calendar of the Faculty.

Option B: The student is entitled to take a global test (10 points), consisting of a written exam on the theoretical and practical issues of the course, to be held on the dates indicated in the academic calendar approved by each centre in which the degree is offered.

Examination questions may combine open and multiple choice questions (10 points maximum). In the case of open-ended questions, three aspects will be assessed: the structure and clarity of the content, the completeness of the content and the absence of formal errors.

The student can use both options. If she/he chooses option A and also takes the global exam in option B, her/his final mark will be the higher of the two grades.

5.1. Methodological overview

In the process of learning, different teaching methods will be used including lectures. More participatory techniques by the student training will be also used. This second type of activities allows student involvement in the learning process and lets the teacher notice the problems and concerns that may arise in the various topics.

In addition to the scheduled classes, the student must make an effort to manage and be familiar with the basic content of the course with the continued help of the textbook "The Spanish Economy".

5.2. Learning tasks

The programme offered to the students to help them achieve the learning results includes the following activities:

• Lectures: with the main objective of conveying the fundamental concepts of the subject, so that goals set by the teacher are achieved. The lecture is expected to be participatory and to encourage debate as well as to clarify issues and questions based on the student handbook, the supporting literature for the course and materials provided in the Digital Platform (ADD).
• Resolution of problems and presentation of case studies, preparation and presentation of papers, discussion topics, and readings.
• Tutorials and evaluation that allow a more direct and personal support to students in order to monitor tasks, prepare and produce reports, answer questions and guide them in the study and resolution of exercise activities. These tutorials may be individual or in a group.

5.3. Syllabus

Contents are divided into three modules that are distributed between lectures and seminars in a parallel and complementary way, as follows:

MODULE I: THE SPANISH ECONOMY AT THE START OF THE XXIst CENTURY

Lesson 1. The present-day Spanish economic situation

Seminar.  Economic indicators and statistical sources

Lesson 2. The process of economic growth

Seminar. Determinants of economic growth

 MODULE II: PRODUCTIVE STRUCTURE AND COMPETITIVENESS

Lesson 3. The productive structure

Seminar. Productive sectors in perspective

Lesson 4. Foreign trade

Seminar. Internationalization

 MODULE III: INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS

Lesson 5. Labour market

Seminar. Unemployment

Lesson 6. Financial system

Seminar. Evolution of the financial system

Lesson 7.  Public sector

Seminar. Income distribution

Lesson 8.  Spain in the Economic and Monetary Union

Seminar. The recent economic situation

5.4. Course planning and calendar

The timing of the sessions will be announced on the website of the corresponding Faculties. The practices and other activities, as well as the deadlines for tasks will be communicated by the teacher during the sessions and via the e-learning platform (ADD) of the Universidad de Zaragoza

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

[BB: Bibliografía básica / BC: Bibliografía complementaria]