Economics Teaching

Economics is a subject that is particularly attractive to applicants from non-traditional backgrounds in terms of university entrance. This is because a vocational/professional dimension can be very important to first-generation applicants to higher education and Cambridge, and to applicants from schools with little experience of encouraging their pupils to apply to Cambridge - not least in terms of justifying the significant cost of that higher education.

In the case of Economics, the University Faculty’s primary emphasis is research and it is under intense pressure to be research active. This is because research activity is admissible under the Research Assessment Exercise through which central government allocates research funding proportions across the UK university departments, whereas College teaching and pastoral care of students is not. As a result, College teaching in Economics throughout the Cambridge Collegiate system is overwhelmingly provided by CTOs and the possibility of making a less expensive Economics UTO appointment to a College is highly unlikely.

Robinson’s present Fellow and Director of Studies in Economics is Dr Mark Hayes, whose post is funded by a group of alumni came together as “shareholders” to help to fund the Economics teaching at the College. This allowed Robinson to begin admitting students to read Economics once again, having been forced to drop admissions in the subject for one year whilst funding was being raised.

Dr Mark Hayes, Fellow and Director of Studies in Economics, comments on the 2010 final examination results:

“We were delighted by the performance of our finalists (Part IIB) this year, two of whom achieved Firsts and the other an upper Second. A fourth student, who switched from Economics to Management Sciences also achieved a First.”

Economics is a strong subject at Robinson and attracts interest from a varied group of potential applicants. With this in mind, the College has developed a new subject option, known as Economics +, which will be offered alongside the existing Economics Tripos. This is because over recent decades, the study of Economics has developed two differing strands. One uses statistical and mathematical techniques to analyse and assess on a numerical modelling approach and the other uses an understanding of Economics in a more narrative tradition as a tool for understanding and predicting financial, social and politically likely outcomes within any given market system. Both approaches are valid and have their supporters and detractors, but with the accompanying changes in Higher Education in the UK, Europe and the USA over the same period, it has become increasingly rare to find university departments that are able to offer both options to students. This has become an increasing source of frustration to many of the brightest and best Economics students whom we have admitted as Robinson members in recent times, especially those attaining First-class degrees. However, the collegiate and Tripos systems within the University of Cambridge offer an increasingly rare (amongst universities generally) opportunity to promote and support such academic diversity and to offer students the opportunity to study Economics within either of these approaches alongside colleagues taking the other approach and to benefit from the interactions and insights that arise from such proximities.

For this reason, Robinson is the first Cambridge College to invite applications to read Economics for one year (Part I), followed by two years in either Law, Sociology (PPS) or Theology. Economics+ will appeal to candidates combining strengths in both mathematics and the humanities with an interest in public policy, or in economic and political reform. Those with a particular interest in philosophical and ethical questions and the interaction between religion and the economy in a multicultural world might choose Part II Theology. Those interested in the nature of societies, their institutions and cultures, beyond the abstractions of economic theory, can develop their understanding through the Sociology pathway of Part II PPS. Those interested in the legal system from the perspective of public policy and legislation, or conversely, those aiming for the legal profession who wish to acquire an understanding of the economic system and its reflexive relationship with the law, can proceed to Part II Law including, if they wish, the necessary papers to proceed directly to professional training upon graduation. Candidates for Economics+ will need to specify their choice for Part II in their application and will be interviewed for both subject areas. There is also the possibility of undertaking a third or fourth year in Management Studies to complete an unparalleled preparation for business or public administration.

Donor support has been essential in helping Robinson not only to continue, but to build upon a strong Economics teaching programme, so that it is a thriving subject at Robinson today The College has limited funds in place for future years and is seeking additional donations in order to support the post of Director of Studies and Fellow in Economics in the long-term.

To make a gift to support College Teaching, please download the donation form. Thank you!