Laid down as a regulation by the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training on 2 March 2006, as delegated in a letter of 26 September 2005 from the Ministry of Education and Research pursuant to the Act of 17 July 1998 no. 61 relating to primary and secondary education (Education Act) Section 3-4 first paragraph.
Gjelder fra: 2006-08-01T00:00:00 +2
Gjelder til: 2016-07-31T00:00:00 +2
Purpose
Economics plays an important role in everyday life, and social economics is a crucial factor for the standards of living and the welfare of a country’s citizens. In a global economy with marked differences between poor and rich countries, it is important to understand the factors at work in the international community's economic development. By the same token, it is necessary to understand how economic growth can give rise to a whole new set of challenges with respect to the environment and sustainable development.
Social economics shall give pupils a better insight into economic processes and relationships on a national and international level. Furthermore, this subject shall motivate the, to become more involved in society and participate actively in working life and social life. A socio-economic understanding will give them a better springboard from which to participate in social debate and make financial choices. Social economics is therefore a generally educative subject.
Social economics shall make pupils better quipped to work with economic policies and theories. The subject shall also help them better understand how money and financial policies can be used to achieve economic and political objectives. Social economics shall sharpen their awareness of the relationship between how social economic priorities are set and how these affect one’s own circumstances. The subject shall also make pupils better attuned to issues concerning the use of resources, the environment and sustainable development.
By using many methods in different arenas, teaching in the subject shall stimulate curiosity, creativity, cooperation, reflection and critical thinking. Social economics will help us create a basis for participation in working life, continued study and lifelong learning.
Structure
Social economics comprises two programme subjects: Social economics 1 and Social economics 2.
Social economics 2 builds on Social economics 1.
These programme subjects have been structured into main subject areas, for which competence aims have been formulated. The main subject areas complement each other, and should be viewed in relation to one another.
Overview of the main subject areas:
Programme subject | Main subject areas | |||||
Social economics 1 | Market theory | National accounts and economic growth | The labour market and unemployment | Price inflation and monetary policy | Distribution of income and environmental problems | International economics |
Social economics 2 | Market theory | Economic growth | Unemployment and economic policy | Distribution of income and environmental problems | International economics | |
Main subject areas
Market theory
Social economics 1
The main subject area Market theory is concerned with how prices are decided in a market, and how prices and converted amounts depend on consumer demand and business supply of goods and services. Market theory is concerned with the formation of prices in a market for perfect competition. In addition, the subject is concerned with the market's possibilities and limitations.
Social economics 2
The main subject area Market theory is concerned with how prices and converted amounts depend on the consumer demand and business supply of goods and services. Market theory is concerned with the establishment of prices in a monopoly market structure and with the different forms of imperfect competition. The main subject area is also concerned with the different forms of price discrimination.
National accounts and economic growth
The main subject area National accounts and economic growth is concerned with measuring central economic totals, national production and growth, and how production is applied. The subject is also concerned with the role of the public sector in value creation. The main subject area is concerned with factors that stimulate economic growth in society, and how the public sector can assist in growth.
The labour market and unemployment
The main subject area Labour market and unemployment is concerned with theories for how unemployment arises and what kind of economic policies can counteract unemployment. The subject also considers the factors that influence the establishment of salaries, and what factors can cause wage disparities within a society.
Price inflation and monetary policy
The main subject area Price inflation and monetary policy is concerned with the many causes of price inflation. The subject discusses what monetary policies are and how these influence price inflation and the economy in general. The significance of the capital market for the economy is a central theme in the subject.
Distribution of income and environmental problems
Social economics 1
The main subject area Distribution of income and environmental problems is concerned with how income is distributed internally in each country and between countries, and which means and measures authorities can use to influence the distribution of income. The subject also is concerned with what can be done to achieve economic growth in poorer countries. The main subject area also is concerned with indirect influences of production and consumption, and measures that can contribute to counteracting environmental problems.
Social economics 2
The main subject area Distribution of income and environmental problems is concerned with the relationship between economic activity and environmental problems. The many different opinions and concepts of sustainable development are a central theme in the subject. The main subject area also is concerned with central economic problems associated with poor and rich countries.
International economics
Social economics 1
The main subject area International economics deals with the causes and effects of international trade. It also is concerned with the consequences of increasing international trade, fluctuating and fixed exchange rates and the affects of changes to the exchange rate.
Social economics 2
The main subject area International economics is concerned with why countries trade with one another, and how trade is influenced by – among other things – international agreements and rates of exchange. The main subject area is also concerned with central economic problems associated with Norway's relationship to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the European Union (EU).
Economic growth
The main subject area Economic growth is concerned with the possible sources of economic growth and the various means available to create economic growth.
Unemployment and economic policy
The main subject area Unemployment and economic policy is concerned with the various causes of unemployment and what kinds of economic policies might counteract unemployment. The main subject area is also concerned with how economic policy influences the economy.
Teaching hours
Teaching hours are given in 60-minute units:
Social economics 1: 140 teaching hours per year
Social economics 2: 140 teaching hours per year
Basic skills
Basic skills are integrated into the competence aims for this course in areas where they contribute to the development of and are a part of the basic subject competence. In the subject Social economics, basic skills are understood as follows:
Being able to express oneself orally in Social economics involves stating understandable arguments and to justify professional points of view. This also involves being able to explain the content and theoretical basis of public documents, as well as specialist literature in printed form and on the Internet.
Being able to express oneself in writing in Social economics involves the correct use of language, precise use of technical expressions and the ability to formulate oneself well in writing. It also involves structuring subject matter, logical and analytical argumentation and showing how economic theory can be applied to practical and topical problems.
Being able to read in Social economics involves researching, interpreting and reflecting on professional texts from books, public documents, newspapers, professional journals and Internet. Being able to read also means to be able to interpret and understand tables and diagrams.
Numeracy in Social economics involves doing calculations on the basis of tables and diagrams. It also means being able to calculate the difference between condition variables and flow variables, and the difference between levels and growth.
Being able to use digital tools in Social economics involves researching websites from the largest financial institutions. This means being able to select and make use of relevant information, and present one's own work using word a processing program and other presentation programs. The use of digital tools also involves being able to make calculations by means of a spreadsheet program.
Competence aims
Social economics 1
Market theory
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- describe the main characteristics of social economic development
- give an account of conditions that explain demand for consumer goods and consumer services
- give an account of what influences the supply of a product or a service
- give an account of price formation of a product or a service sold in a market with perfect competition
- discuss market opportunities and limitations
National accounts and economic growth
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- summarize the most important concepts in national accounts, and explain the relationship between them
- elaborate on and discuss whether gross national product is a suitable goal for a country's production and welfare
- give an account of division of labour between the public and the private sector
- give an account of the main characteristics in the structure of industry in Norway, and discuss what oil and gas mean to the Norwegian economy
- give an account of economic growth in Norway and other industrialized nations, and explain the sources of this growth
The labour market and unemployment
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- explain how salaries are established, and why wage disparities arise
- explain how employment and unemployment are measured
- give an account of why unemployment and employment vary between countries and over time
- elaborate on and discuss the possible causes of the disparities in unemployment and employment within and across countries
- give an account of public and governmental measures that stimulate employment and counteract unemployment
Price inflation and monetary policy
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- give an account of the causes of rises in prices, and how rising prices are measured
- give an account of the purpose of monetary policy, and how this works
- explain the significance of financial markets for social economics
Distribution of income and environmental problems
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- give an account of how income is distributed in Norway
- their how means used by authorities can and should be used for distribution of income
- give an account of differences in incomes and economic growth between different countries
- discuss what can be done to achieve growth in poorer countries
- explain the indirect effects of production and consumption
- give an account of the different means used to counteract environmental problems
International economics
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- give an account of the cause and effect of international division of labour and commerce
- explain what is meant by fixed and fluctuating rate of exchange
- give an account of the affects of changes in the rate of exchange for one country
- give an account of the concept competitiveness, and their factors that influence this
- their opportunities and challenges of increased international trade
Social economics 2
Market theory
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- give an account of the monopoly's adaptations to the market, and compare these with perfect competition
- explain the differences between social economics and business economic assessments
- describe the various kinds of price discrimination
- give an account of the various kinds of imperfect competition
- give an account of economic policies that promote free competition
- discuss the social economic effects of a policy that stimulates increased competition
Distribution of income and environmental problems
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- elaborate on and discuss the relationship between economic activity and environmental problems
- discuss the many different opinions and concepts for sustainable development
- give an account of direct or indirect intervention applied to the market to prevent environmental damage, and to avoid overconsumption of resources
- elaborate on and discuss central economic problems associated with poor and rich countries, and discuss possible measures to be taken to counteract poverty within the international community
International economics
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- explain the theories for why countries trade with one another
- give an account of free trade, protectionism and the various types of trade barriers and restrictions
- give an account of how the rate of exchange is decided on the foreign exchange market, and the consequences of changes to the exchange rate
- give an account of means that can be used by authorities to influence the rate of exchange
- give an account of the significance of international trade agreements
- elaborate on and discuss the most central economic problems associated with Norway's relationship to WTO and EU
- give an account of the significance of international financial markets for the economies of different countries
Economic growth
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- give an account of possible causes of differences in economic growth between different countries
- give an account of means that can be used to achieve economic growth
- give an account of economic means that can stimulate the creation of new jobs
Unemployment and economic policy
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- give an account of various theories for unemployment, and assess suitable of counteracting joblessness
- give an account of how monetary policy can influence the economy
- give an account of how fiscal policy can influence the economy
- give an account of current guidelines established for Norwegian economic policies that exist today
- elaborate on and discuss the most important economic challenges that Norway faces in its social welfare policies
Assessment
Provisions for final assessment:
Overall achievement grades
Programme subject | Provision |
Social economics 1 | The pupils shall have an overall achievement mark. |
Social economics 2 | The pupils shall have an overall achievement mark. |
Examination for pupils
Programme subject | Provision |
Social economics 1 | The pupils may be selected for an oral exam. The exam is prepared and marked locally. |
Social economics 2 | The pupils may be selected for written or oral exams. The written exam is prepared and marked centrally. The oral exam is prepared and marked locally. |
Examination for external candidates
Programme subject | Provision |
Social economics 1 | The external candidates shall sit for an oral exam. The exam is prepared and marked locally. |
Social economics 2 | The external candidates shall sit for written exams. The written exam is prepared and marked centrally. |
The provisions for assessment are stipulated in the regulations of the Norwegian Education Act.