Economics for beginners
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Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 18 Sep 2025End Date: 23 Oct 2025Thu (Evening): 19:00 - 20:30OnlineFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00
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What is the course about?
Economics is the study of how people allocate scarce resources for production, distribution, and consumption, both individually and collectively. There are two major types of economics. Microeconomics focusing on the behaviour of consumers like us and producers such as businesses. Macroeconomics examines the economy as a whole on a regional, national, or international scale. Economics is especially concerned with efficiency in production and exchange and uses models and assumptions to understand how to create incentives and policies that will maximise efficiency.
What will we cover?
In microeconomics, we will cover “the economic problem”, “production possibility frontiers”, different types of economic structures such as “free market” versus “command”. In macroeconomics we will cover “Economic growth”, “Inflation”, “Employment”, “Trade” and the role of the government as an economic agent for “good” or “bad”. We will also discuss the conflicts between macro objectives such as encouraging high growth which can lead to higher prices (inflation).
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
-Analyse, assess and critically evaluate the state of the economy such as the impact of COVID 19.
-Develop your communication skills and have reasoned arguments of evaluating government policy and its impact on the economy.
-Problem-solve and debate economic solutions to economic challenges.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No previous knowledge is required as this is an introductory course. That being said, an interest in news and current affairs may prove helpful. Reading the Business and Economics news would also develop your learning and help you gain more from the course both in terms of enjoyment and learning outcomes.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This course will run as a mixture of lectures/ short presentations by the tutor, Q&A, and class discussions. A comprehensive bibliography will be given at the beginning of the course. Also, (brief) reading materials will be handed out at the end of each session. These will mostly cover issues raised in the class. While this supplementary reading is not a course requirement, course participants will benefit more from the course if they do some of the supplementary readings recommended by the course tutor. Please note, that as the course progresses, course participants are encouraged to take a more active part in the course – this will be achieved through a mixture of smaller group work but also class discussions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Although you are not required to buy anything, you may wish to buy books, read articles online. However, please note that this is not necessary to follow the class as such.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please explore our economics section for additional courses this term and in spring.
Naresh Sonpar works as a Curriculum Director at a college in London, alongside his teaching at City Lit. He possesses a wealth of teaching experience supporting Business, Economics and Finance students, and in his college teaching has supported students in progressing onto Russell Group universities including Oxford, Cambridge and the London School of Economics. Prior to teaching, Naresh was a Hedge Fund Portfolio Manager, Trader, Financial Engineer and Investment Banker with more than 17 years’ experience and expertise in financial markets including complex financial derivative products. Naresh has used his skills and experience of financial instruments and markets to enrich his. His rich and deep industrial expertise supports all students with application of their learning whilst making it contemporary and engaging. Naresh has also successfully taught students how to create and grow investment portfolios through strategic data analysis and forecasting.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.