• Offered for Year: 2025/26

• Module Leader(s): Dr Nicola Mulkeen

• Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

1.       To provide students with the opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge of contested markets
with practical skills to tackle a real-world policy issue of their own choosing.
2.       To equip students with the skills necessary to think systematically and critically about the
political significance of market practices that test the moral boundaries and to sharpen their
skills of written and oral argumentation.
3.       To demonstrate the interplay between moral and empirical considerations when it comes to
assessing, proposing, and recommending policies.
4.       To help students to explore and draw conclusions about the moral limits of markets, linking
these conclusions to practical public policy issues through case studies and structured policy
development.
5.       To cultivate advanced analytical skills for evaluating the implications and effectiveness of
policies in contested markets, alongside clear, persuasive communication skills for engaging
with stakeholders and advocating for policy proposals.
6.       To prepare students for real-world policy-making by fostering teamwork, considering
stakeholder engagement and peer feedback essential for addressing the complexities of
regulating contested markets.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module examines the moral issues that arise in the use of markets as a form of economic organisation, giving particular attention to the limits of markets and exploring why some goods and services should not be for sale or purchase.

This module provides students with the opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge of contested markets with practical skills to tackle real-world policy issues of their choosing. Through a series of workshops students will learn to identify policy issues relating to contested markets, situate them within the relevant academic literature, develop a policy brief to address these issues, and learn to convey arguments to stakeholders through a process of peer feedback and engagement.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The teaching methods are grounded in active and participatory learning and are intended to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding of contested markets and practical applications. The workshop series fosters an environment for deep discussion, critical thinking, and collaborative learning, simulating the practical contexts in which policy analysts operate. Students will evaluate real-life policy issues and develop the nuanced analytical and communication skills essential for effective policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The portfolio encourages precision in students' thought processes, reflecting the conciseness required for policy briefs and other policy-related writing. The assessment is designed to build students’ confidence and competence in addressing complex policy issues that require multi-stakeholder engagement.

Reading Lists

• POL8068's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• POL8068's Timetable