Assignment brief

For this assignment you will choose a macroeconomic issue based on an article you read on
the Financial times/Economist/World Economic Forum/Vietnam Economic Times/The
Saigon Times. You will need to show the link between the chosen topic and the relevant
economic theory covered in class. Then, research this issue or problem, using relevant
textbooks, journals and periodicals, and present an analysis which suggests how
macroeconomic analysis contributes to both an understanding of the topic and a range of
possible solutions, or responses from the perspective of government policy. Data should be
used to support your analysis. Data can be retrieved from official sources like ONS, Eurostat,
OECD, IMF, ILO, World Bank.
This assignment is a form of inquiry-based learning, where your learning is motivated by an
issue or problem that interests you, and you develop a deeper understanding of this as you
research this area, review competing perspectives.
Direction for Writing Your Assignment
The aim is to use academic theories to understand and explain the important drivers of
events (causes), rather than simply describing events (symptoms). Therefore, the most
important elements within your assignment will involve analysis and evaluation, which
requires use of appropriate theories from the academic literature. Evaluate the
appropriateness and applicability of the insights provided by and then present and explain
your own insights.
The type of questions that will help you develop the descriptive, analytical and evaluative
sections of your assignment could include:
1. Description stage of your assignment:
• Introduce the name of the article, journal and the author(s) [Please provide the link to
the article in references lists]
• Introduce the issue / problem mentioned in the article.
• What is the issue and context?
• Contextualise the topic / problem / provide background information.
• Summarize key points in the article (Where? Who is involved/ affected/ interested?
When? ...)
2. Analysis stage of your assignment:
 Figure out the ideas in the article:
• How the author(s) described/analysed the issue/problem?
• What were the author(s) main arguments/comments/ideas? Was the article supported
by any theory?
• What data/figures/source of information were applied in the article?
 Your points of view
• Your agreements/disagreement with the view of the article
• Your arguments/data/theory/example/practical information to prove your view
• Consider alternative approaches / perspectives/ theories for understanding the issue.
• Why propose the approach / theory?
• How is the issue / problem addressed by the approach / theory?
• How might the theory provide an appropriate solution?
• What aspect of the context is not addressed by the theory (if applicable)?
• How appropriate is the theory in providing an explanation and solution to the specific
issues / context.
• How does the perspective work in practice?
3. Evaluation stage of your assignment:
• Consider how effectively the theory explains the working of the system.
• Does the theory need to be altered, in order to be more effectively applied to
explaining the issue/ resolving the problem?
• Is there any expansion or solution you would like to add/suggest?

The University regulations on plagiarism and unfair practice must be observed. Your
attention is drawn in particular to the need to acknowledge all sources of information by
clearly referencing all material using the Harvard Convention (see INSTRUCTION). The
Cardiff School of Management reserves the right to ask for further proof of the nature and
source of material used, and you are advised to keep complete records of such sources.

Essay word limit: 2000 words

Deadline: 02/04/2023
Coursework Assessment Criteria:
Your task will be graded against the following weighted criteria:
Assignment First (70%+) Upper Lower Third Fail
marking Second Second (40% -
criteria (60%-69%) (50% - 49%) (0% to 39%)
59%)

Excellent Good Acceptable Satisfactor Work does

Work Quality Work with y Work not satisfy
Work some good assessment
aspects criteria

Question Identifies a There is a Overall has A basic An absence of

selection. valid question clear scope reasonable scope / scope, focus
Clarity of for inquiry / focus and scope, focus focus, but a and clarity in
purpose and focus, and clarity in the and clarity. lack of the choice of
objectives has clarity of proposal. Limited clarity in topic /
within the purpose and High level of creativity in exposition. proposal.
context of the objectives creativity in choice of Limited
theories within the choice of topic. creativity in
outlined in relevant topic. choice of
the brief. context. topic.
Degree of
creativity in
10% choice of
topic.
Excellent
scope, focus
and clarity in
the choice of
topic. It
supports
analysis in a
systematic
fashion. High
level of
creativity in
choice of
topic.

Research. Excellent Good Reasonable Limited Very limited

Relevance standard of standard of standard of evidence of evidence of
and scope. research. research. research. research. research.
Locates Locates an Locates a Locates Only basic Failure to
sufficient data excellent very good some good research has locate
relevant to breadth and range of data. been done, sufficient data
the aims and depth of data. data. Wide Research using an that is of
objectives. Source range of utilises a adequate relevance to
material is relevant range of range of the
highly research mostly source assignment.
relevant and sources is appropriate material. Answer
comprehensiv effectively and relevant Locates utilises a very
25% e. Answer utilised. source only basic / limited set of
utilises a Answer is materials. background source
wide range of well focused. Some data. Only materials.
relevant Source attempt to the obvious Few
academic material is consider the sources are academic
source directly usefulness of utilised. sources are
material. relevant, and information Limited utilised. Some
Research also well sources. relevance of research may
utilises justified. material, not be
commercial Research is which is directly
and / or used to justified to a relevant to the
government effectively satisfactory task set or is
information and standard. only partially
presenting creatively justified.
empirical answer the
information. question.
Effectively Sources are
explains and effectively
justifies the evaluated.
inclusion of
content, in
relation to the
question.
Research is
extremely
well focused,
and sources
are
effectively
evaluated.

Quality of Excellent Good Reasonable Descriptive Descriptive

critical critical standard of critical answer. coverage of
understandin understandin critical understandin Assignment issues, not all
g and g and understandin g and describes of which are
evaluation of g and evaluation of events, relevant to the
evaluation. a range of evaluation of most issues. rather than defined task.
relevant relevant The answer critically Answer fails
macroecono issues. includes an understandi to include
mic theories Theory and appropriate ng and appropriate
and concepts concepts are range of evaluating theories and
30% relevant to clearly relevant the issue concepts.
the specific explained, theories and using Confused
topic. A and are concepts, relevant explanation
range of relevant to with a academic of theories.
relevant the task set. reasonable theories. Limited
theoretical Presents a explanation Answer attempt to
frameworks well-argued of concepts includes evaluate
and concepts and cohesive that are some theories.
are utilised. case. Answer appropriate relevant Conclusions
Higher level effectively for the set theories and are largely
of theoretical utilises and task. concepts unsubstantiate
knowledge is evaluates Presents a but is rather d. An
demonstrated theory. cohesive limited in inadequate
by presenting Answer case. scope. answer with
a broad and provides Theories are Limited only limited
deep strong analysed, evaluation explanation.
knowledge of evidence of evaluated and critique
theory and in-depth and of theories.
concepts, theoretical critiqued, but Conclusion
which are knowledge depth of is weak, and
considered in and critical analysis is only
a critical reflection. sometimes partially
manner. limited. supported
Provides a by the
rigorously theories and
argued and arguments
convincing presented.
case. Strong Whilst the
evidence of answer is
critical adequate,
reflection. there is
Presents scope for
original and further
creative developmen
insights. t and clarity
of
explanation.

Ability to Excellent Good Adequate A few brief Little or no

compare comparison general comparison comparison comparison
theory to between comparisons of theory and s of theory between
practice. theory and of theory data. and data. . theory and
Quality of practice. with data. data.
theoretical Appropriate
application. application of
theories and
concepts,
using
appropriate
25% data.
Effective and
well
integrated
comparisons
of theory and
data and
appropriate
use of
examples.

Standard of Excellent Good Reasonably Satisfactory Poorly

written standard of standard of good standard. written.
communicatio written written standard. The Frequent
n. academic academic The report standard of errors in
English. English. has a written written
Assignment Grammar is reasonably English, English and
structure and good. logical grammar grammar.
grammar are Assignment structure, and Report lacks a
excellent. has a logical and is clearly presentation cohesive and
Academic and cohesive argued. The are logical
terminology structure. standard of satisfactory. structure,
10% is used Referencing English Whilst the which
throughout. is thorough grammar and assignment prevents
Arguments and presentation has arguments
are extremely complete, is structure, flowing and
fluid, with all reasonable. arguments obscures
cohesive, and sources Arguments are not fully meaning.
well argued. acknowledge are generally developed Academic
Referencing d. cohesive and and there is writing is
is thorough Referencing fluid. Use of a basic level muddled.
and complete, is generally academic of clarity Presentation
with all consistent, terminology and is poor. The
sources and an is adequate. coherence. standard of
 acknowledge appropriate All sources Referencing referencing is
d. referencing are is inadequate.
Referencing style is used. acknowledge incomplete,
is consistent, d. or an
and an Referencing inappropriat
appropriate is generally e approach
referencing consistent, to
style is used. and an referencing
appropriate is adopted.
referencing
style is used.

Learning outcomes:
• Measuring the macro economy
• Inflation
• Production and Growth
• Unemployment
• Financial market
• Credit, Banks and Money
• Economic fluctuations
• Fiscal Policy
• Monetary Policy
• Innovation, unemployment and living standards in the long run