Environmental economics and policy

Work load: 5 ECTS

Time: Winter semester

Compulsory module for SBE

This module deals with the analysis of environmental problems from an economic perspective. All current pressing environmental problems are analysed in this course from a theoretical and empirical perspective. The possibilities of using economic instruments to find solutions to these environmental problems are presented and discussed in detail.

Structure of the course:

1. environmental trends
2. the theory of environmental externalities
3. common goods and public goods
4. instruments of environmental policy
5. The value of the environment
6. Energy: The Great Transformation
7. Climate change
8. Green Economy
9. Population growth and the environment
10. Agriculture, food and the environment
11. Non-renewable resources
12. Utilisation of renewable resources
13. water: economics and politics
14. trade and environment

The course is designed as a 3 SWS (semester hours per week) lecture.

Final examination:

The course ends with a final written exam at the end of the semester (repeat exam before the start of the summer semester). The exam consists of two parts: Part 1 (75%) deals with topics from the lecture, part 2 (25%) consists of questions on a literature source provided at the beginning of the semester.

Financial policy

Work load: 5 ECTS

Time: Summer term

Compulsory elective module in Major Financial Management, compulsory module in  LAG Economics

The course discusses the effects of monetary policy on the development of an economy from a theoretical and empirical perspective. Monetary policy measures are analysed with regard to their medium and long-term consequences for inflation, employment and growth. Current monetary policy developments and the consequences of current monetary policy are a major focus of the course.

Content of the course:

1. money supply and demand
2. transmission of monetary policy impulses
3. strategies of monetary policy
4. monetary policy in the economic and financial crisis
5. monetary policy and coordination under alternative exchange rate regimes
6. fundamentals of the European System of Central Banks

The course is designed as a 4 SWS (semester hours per week) lecture.

Final examination:

The course ends with a final written exam at the end of the semester (repeat exam before the start of the summer semester).

Macroeconomics

Work load: 5 ECTS

Time: Summer semester

Compulsory module for B.Sc. Business Administration, SBE; compulsory elective module for D3B

This module deals with the analysis of macroeconomic topics such as the short and medium-term effects of economic policy interventions on employment and inflation, growth processes, the significance of expectations for the development of the economy and the open economy.

Structure of the course:

1. macroeconomic analysis in the short term

• IS-LM model
• Analysing economic policy in the short term

2. macroeconomic analysis in the medium term

• The labour market
• The AS-AD model
• Economic policy in the medium term: demand and supply shocks
• Phillips curve

3. macroeconomic analysis in the long term: the Solow model

4. expectations

• Financial markets and expectations
• Expectations and consumer demand
• Expectations and economic policy
• The importance of expectations in economic and financial crises

5. Open economy

• Interest rates and exchange rates
• Different exchange rate regimes
• Real exchange rates and analysis in the medium term

The course is designed as a 4 SWS (semester hours per week) lecture with an integrated exercise.

Final examination:

The course ends with a final written exam at the end of the semester (repeat exam before the start of the summer semester).

Regional and Urban Economics

Work load: 5 ECTS

Time: Winter term

Students acquire skills in the following fields:

• A basic understanding of theoretical analyses of regional and urban economic issues
• An understanding of the importance of regional and urban economics in a globalized world
• Creating empirical analyses using application-oriented methods of regional and urban economy (e.g. shift-share, cluster analysis, factor analysis)

Module Content:

1. Industrial location
2. Agglomeration and clustering
3. The spatial distribution of activities
4. The spatial structure of the urban economy
5. Regional specialization, trade, and multiplier analysis
6. Regional growth disparities
7. Regional labor markets and migration
8. Regional Studies: Empirical Methods
9. Globalization: Cities, Regions, and Economic Policy

The lecture is designed as a 3 weekly hours lecture.

Final exam:

The course ends with a final exam at the end of the semester (repeat exam before the start of the summer semester). The exam consists of two parts: Part 1 (75%) deals with topics from the lecture, Part 2 (25%) consists of questions on a literature source provided at the beginning of the semester.

Microeconomics as a minor subject

Work load: 5 ECTS

Time: Winter term

In this course, the basic models for analysing markets are analysed. The consequences of state intervention in markets are discussed. The effects of imperfect markets are analysed: monopolies, oligopolies and monopolistic competition. The effects of price discrimination and market failure are also analysed in detail.

Structure of the course:

• Introduction to micro-analytical analysis: supply and demand
• Consumers
• Consumer behaviour and demand for goods
• Companies
• Production and cost function
• Optimal supply of goods on competitive markets
• Monopoly and monopsony
• Pricing with market power
• Monopolistic competition
• Market failure
• Asymmetric information
• External effects

The course is designed as a 4 SWS (semester hours per week) lecture with an integrated exercise.

Final examination:

The course ends with a final written exam at the end of the semester (repeat exam before the start of the summer semester).

Macroeconomics as a minor subject

Work load: 5 ECTS

Time: Summer term

This module deals with the analysis of macroeconomic topics such as short and medium-term effects of economic policy interventions on employment and inflation, growth processes, the open economy from a nominal and real perspective.

Structure of the course:

I.   Macroeconomics in the short term

1. goods market
2. money and financial markets
3. the IS-LM model

II. Macroeconomics in the medium and long term

1. the labour market
2. the AS-AD model
3. the long term: economic growth

III. International economy: Monetary and real foreign trade

1. open goods and financial markets
2. the goods market in an open economy
3. production, interest rate and exchange rate
4. real foreign trade

The course is designed as a 4 SWS lecture with an integrated exercise.

Final examination:

The course ends with a final written exam at the end of the semester (repeat exam before the start of the summer semester).

Patents and Innovation (Summer School WFI)

Workload: 2,5 ECTS

General Elective in the Bachelor Program BWL, General Elective in the Bachelor Program Sustainability in Business and Economics

Time: WFI Summer School

Patents and innovation play crucial roles in fostering economic growth and competitiveness for both individual businesses and entire economies. Fos-tering innovation and protecting intellectual property through patents are therefore vital components of a thriving and dynamic economy. They not only drive economic growth but also enhance global competitiveness and attract investment. This course addresses important questions regarding the effects of patents and innovations on economies.

Contents:

1. Schumpeter and the Process of “Creative Destruction”
2. The Process of Technological Change
3. The Relationship Between Market Structure, and Technological Advance
4. The Economics of the Patent System
5. Empirical Evidence

Final exam:

Written exam of 45 minutes.

Bachelor’s thesis

You can of course write a Bachelor's or Master's thesis with Professor Weber.

Bachelor's theses can be written in the subject fields of Environmental Economics or Financial Policy.

The prerequisite for writing a Bachelor's thesis in the subject area of environmental economics is the successful (i.e. passed exam) completion of the module Environmental Economics.

The prerequisite for a Bachelor's thesis in the subject area of monetary policy is the successful completion of the module Financial Policy.

Master's thesis

You can of course write a Bachelor's or Master's thesis with Professor Weber.

Master's theses can be written on the subject of Regional and Urban Economics. The prerequisite for writing a Master's thesis is the successful completion of the Regional and Urban Economics module.

If you are interested in writing a thesis, please contact Professor Weber by e-mail. We will then arrange a meeting via ZOOM or in person at the faculty to discuss further content or key topics for the thesis. Preferences for specific subject areas and the starting date for the thesis will of course be taken into account.

Information about the internship report

Prof. Weber ist Beauftragter der Fakultät zur Begutachtung der Pflichtpraktika.

Sollten Sie im Rahmen Ihres Studienganges ein Pflichtpraktikum ableisten, benötigen Sie einen Nachweis zur erfolgreichen Absolvierung des Pflichtpraktikums. Sie müssen hierzu einen Praktikumsbericht anfertigen, in dem Aufgaben, Ablauf und Erfahrungsgewinn durch das Praktikum dokumentiert werden. (Bitte keine Bilanzsummen oder ähnliches, der betrieblichen Geheimhaltung unterliegende Informationen).

Der Praktikumsbericht sollte ca. 12 bis 15 Seiten umfassen. Dem Bericht ist eine Gliederung voranzustellen sowie ein Deckblatt mit Name, Matrikelnummer, E-Mail-Adresse, Angabe der Praktikumsfirma sowie die Dauer des Praktikums. (Dieses muss acht Wochen umfassen, kann aber auch in z.B. 2 x 4 Wochen gesplittet werden.) Als Nachweis der acht Wochen muss das Zeugnis oder ein Praktikumsnachweis in Kopie beigefügt werden.

Training in a business profession (Ausbildung)

If you have completed training in a business profession (e.g. banking specialist, industrial specialist or similar), you do not need to provide proof of an eight-week internship. A copy of the IHK certificate (please note the student registration number) is sufficient for recognition.

Internship before the beginning of studies

If the student has completed an internship that meets the requirements of the respective examination regulations before the start of the degree programme, this internship can be recognised as a compulsory internship upon application by the student.

Please send the report and confirmation from the company in pdf format to the following email address:

reinhard.weber(at)ku.de

Please bear in mind that a maximum processing time of 4 weeks is possible and it is therefore best to send the documents to the above email address immediately after completing your internship.

If your internship is recognised, you will receive a notification by email. The Examination Office will also be informed about your successfully completed compulsory internship. The corresponding ECTS will then be entered automatically by the Examinations Office.