Course Description

 

This course aims to provide students with an analysis of the theories to analyse different phenomena in the global economy, and to develop their ability to apply these theories to explain real-world events. There are three themes in the course. The first is to discuss the structure of world trade, related economic theories and efforts from different international bodies to organize trade. The second theme turns to the landscape of international financial markets, by looking at capital flows around the world and theories to explain them. Lastly, the debate on, and theories of, exchange rate arrangements across countries will also be discussed. Throughout the coverage of these topics heavy reference will be made to recent major economic events round the world.

 

 

 

This course deals with quantitative model building and statistical skills which students will find useful in economics, marketing, risk management, and investment. It aims to teach students how to use statistical techniques to estimate and test hypotheses in business and economics. Students will learn how to create a statement of theory or a hypothesis, how to collect data, and how to specify economic and business models. Students will also learn how to estimate the parameters of their chosen forecasting model, check for model adequacy, and test the hypotheses derived from the model. The emphasis is on the application of econometric methods to the analysis of real world economic data using advanced statistical software.

 

 

 

This course aims to examine the causes and consequences of globalization from an economic perspective, and how the world is integrated through trade and financial transactions. It discusses the patterns of international trade, why nations trade, what they trade, and the consequences of trade. Then, we go on to analyze the determinants and the implementations of different trade and investment policies, the motives for countries to restrict international trade, and the welfare implications of those trade policies. This course also examines a couple of other topics as they relate to the developing world: primary education, and public accountability. Real world issues and policies pertaining to globalization will be discussed throughout the course, including the effects of trade on economic growth and income inequality, multinationals, foreign direct investment, WTO, IMF and different exchange rate regimes.

 

 

 

This course aims at providing an economic analysis of the role of government and the formulation of public policies. The course starts with an examination of the different perspectives on the role of government. It is then followed by the discussion and analysis of welfare economics, public expenditure theory, taxation theory, public policies on education, health care, social insurance, welfare programs and technology.

 

 

 

After completing the course, the student will be able to: (1) apply the statistical concept of method to policy data, and (2) interpret the results of estimation as to both mathematical properties and policy analysis. Students will learn Maximum likelihood estimation, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression), instrumental variables (IV) regression, heteroscedasticity-consistent regression, fixed and random effects models, probit, logit and tobit models, and identification and two-stage least squares estimation of simultaneous equations models.

 

 

 

This course aims to introduce three dominant approaches in the study of intentional relations, namely, Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism. It explores the ontological and methodological questions generated by early liberal, realist and constructivist theories and analyzes their impacts on the development of the neo-equivalents of these traditions. It enables students to examine and apply these diverse and conflicting theoretical tools to conceptualize and analyse world politics. It also evaluates how these theories and concepts affect the way we interpret and react to phenomenon and issues in international relations and international security.

 

 

 

This course aims to introduce students to the context that gives rise to global issues, their nature, and impacts that they may have on nation states. It explores global issues that have direct bearing on the daily life of people of most of the world. It enables students to apply social sciences theories like political science to conceptualize and analyse global issues. It also evaluates how global issues may be dealt with.

 

 

 

This course aims to examine the key concepts and theories of global political economy and their application to the development experience in the real world. Drawing on the experiences of developed and developing countries, especially those in East Asia, the course is designed to guide students to analyse the roles of the government in economic development in both local and global context. This course also examines the prospects and problems of the interplay between government policy and economic development within a country, as well as the interdependence among national economies in the age of globalization.

 

 

 

The course aims to introduce students to the major concepts, theories of globalization, and the social and cultural dimensions of globalization. It also aims at enabling students to critically engage with competing perspectives of globalization and to evaluate effects of globalization on poverty and national/local cultures, and to analyze impacts that globalization has made on the state and its conventional functions.

 

 

 

This course aims to introduce students to issues pertinent to history, politics and the governance of Greater China in today's highly interconnected and interdependent world. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to analyse how governments in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong strive to provide effective governance and meet challenges posed by the trend of globalization.

 

 

 

This course aims to examine the functions of global governance and the impacts of international governmental organizations in a wide range of global issues. It accounts for the development of multilateral institutions, and examines the changes in global order with the emergence of these new players. Traditional problems such as international security, development and aids, and global inequality are discussed, whereas new pressing issues such as global warming and transnational financial regulations are also given attention. In brief, this course reviews the trends and changes in the landscape of global orders, and evaluates the prospects towards more effective, accountable and just global governance.

 

 

 

This course aims to develop students' understanding of psychological approach to essential personnel strategies including assessment, selection and staff development. Students would acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the principles, theories and recent research findings in those areas of work psychology to benefit human resources management.

 

 

 

This course aims to develop students' understanding of psychological influences on consumer behaviour and its application on marketing through the course's comprehensive coverage and learning activities.

 

 

 

This course discusses the limitations of standard economic models and surveys the ways in which psychological principles have been used to learn about preferences, cognition, and behavior behind economic behavior. Topics include: trust, vengeance, fairness, impatience, impulsivity, bounded rationality, learning, reinforcement, classical conditioning, loss-aversion, over-confidence, self-serving biases, cognitive dissonance, altruism, subjective well-being, and hedonic adaptation. Economic concepts such as equilibrium, rational choice, utility maximization, Bayesian beliefs, game theory, and behavior under uncertainty are discussed in light of these phenomena. Traditional economics typically uses the simple “rational actor” model, where people perfectly maximize their advantages. We will present models that are psychologically more realistic than this standard model. We will enrich the standard model by incorporating psychological phenomena, including bounded rationality, bounded self-interest, and bounded willpower. Applications will include decision theory, game theory, asset pricing, savings, portfolio allocation, stock market predictability, and neuroeconomics.

 

 

 

This course aims to develop students' understanding of psychological influences on workplace behaviour and group dynamics. Students would benefit from the course's comprehensive coverage of essential topics in organizational psychology.

 

 

 

This course aims to make students appreciate that the understanding of crime has been very much affected by wider social, cultural, economic and political factors. It also introduces students to the major theories and perspectives on crime and their applications in explaining different types of crimes arising in contemporary society. Towards the end of the course, students are expected to be able to assess the applicability of major theories and perspectives to the understanding of crime in the context of late modern society.

 

 

 

This course aims to develop students' understanding on how punishment is shaped by wider social factors. It also introduces students to the major theories and perspectives on punishment and their applications inside and outside the prison context. Towards the end of the course, students are expected to be able to analyse and evaluate penal practices in the context of late modern society.

 

 

 

This course aims to be a general introduction to the field of social policy studies, covering the core conceptual tools for social policy analysis. As such, this course explores the issues in the relevance of social problems to social policy, the debates on the values and ideologies in social policy, the model of social policy and the formation and transformation welfare state.

 

 

 

This course introduces students to the key theoretical and empirical issues in social policy studies. As such, this course explores the concept of policy process, the provision of social welfare, the frameworks of social policy analysis and evaluation. Various policy issues in social welfare, for example, social security, employment, housing, health and education, etc., will be examined. A particular focus of this course will be the social problems and social policy issues in Hong Kong and other Chinese societies. The students will be able to develop their skills of critical evaluation and appraisal of social policy issues in the contexts of Hong Kong and Greater China.

 

 

 

This course aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge about the current issues related to criminology and social welfare, with a particular focus on the interconnectedness of the two policy areas. It also introduces students to the major issues and debates involve in the use of social welfare policies in tackling crime control issues.

 

 

 

This course aims to provide students an in-depth understanding to the theoretical and practical dimension of the criminal justice system. It also provides students an in-depth understanding to specific selected crimes. Examples of these crimes can be organised crime, white collar crime, sex crime, terrorism, etc., depending on the expertise of the teaching staff and the social significance of the crime issues. This course mainly looks into the issues relating to the nature, causes and the prevention of the crimes in question.

 

 

 

This course aims to provide students with a multidisciplinary overview of the social sciences.  It also aims to give students some insight into the different paradigms to interpret real world phenomena from the fields of economics, political science, psychology and sociology.  Through comparing the different methods of investigating social problems, it is hoped that students can grasp the inherent differences in interpretations and policy recommendations made by experts from these diverse points of view.

 

 

 

This course aims to introduce students to the major approaches, methods, the process and ethical issues involved in social science research. It also explores the philosophical underpinnings that give rise to the major research approaches and methods in social science. Through accomplishing a research study, students will apply what they learn in class to formulate research plans in the related fields in social sciences.

 

 

 

The course aims to provide students with advanced and practical training in the capabilities required for conducting research and scholarly interaction. This course is based on an independent research project that will be prepared by each student individually through ongoing consultation with the project/dissertation supervisor(s). The expected length of the project/dissertation is 7,000-8,000 words. The research project/ dissertation is to be written in English.