Positioning of the programmes

We discuss the position of the EEP and SE programmes at three levels:

-                     Within the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

-                     Within the University of Maastricht

-                     World wide

Within the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

The new tracks European Economic Policy and Social Economics are strongly embedded in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. There are three major differences with the MSc in Financial Economics (MFE) in which the department also participates. First, the focus of the MFE programme is on asset pricing and the volatility of prices of financial assets. In this programme macroeconomic theory and monetary theory serve to explain changes in prices such as inflation rates and changes in interest rates and to explore the relation between macroeconomic and monetary policy and asset pricing. Finance and Econometrics are two other disciplines in MFE programme. Hence, only about one third of the programme covers economics. Second, the focus of MFE is not on Europe and European policy issues. Third, the MFE programme focuses on one specific sector, the financial sector, while the new tracks cover a much broader spectrum. 

Comparison between Social Economics and Behavioral Economics <Bas & Lex>

Within the University of Maastricht

European Economic Policy links up with other developments in Maastricht University. First, the Faculty of Arts and Culture offers a master programme in European Studies. This successful programme discusses many relevant EU policy issues, but does not cover economics. This proposal complements their programme and offers students the possibility to study for a double degree program.  Second, the Faculty of Law organizes a European Law School and again students may opt for a double degree. Third, Maastricht University seriously plans to organize a master programme in Asian Studies. The scope of the programme is not clear yet, but on beforehand there are quite a few possibilities for co-operation with this programme and again a double degree is one of these possibilities. 

Last but not least there are links with the MSc programmes offered by the Maastricht School of Governance. For example, their programmes on social protection and economic policy research are related to our proposal. Note the differences however. The School of Governance focuses on governance issues, in particular in the field of social protection and the developing world is more so that Europe their field of study. In addition, we develop economics tracks, while they cover much broader issues in less depth.

World wide

As`far as we know, no Dutch faculty offers a track in European Economic Policy, nor in Social Economics. Most master programs are standard programs, with a broad number of courses. The specializations that are offered are without a clear focus. In Europe, the situation is not different. Many universities are in the transition process towards the BAMA structure and are working on a restructure of their programs.

With respect to European issues, the College of Europe in Bruges and the London School of Economics are notable exceptions. However, the European programs that are offered, are often interdisciplinary programs covering a number of topics like economics, governance, law, politics and institutions. With respect to Social Economics also the London School of Economics is a notable exception, as is the University College of London. Apart from that similar MSc programmes are taught in the Us, at Kennedy School of Government (Harvard University) and University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.

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