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Friday, December 2, 2011

Why Study Economics?


1) It's interesting and relevant

Economics is often viewed as a dry discipline which has little to say about the real world, however nothing could be further from the truth. A good understanding of economics will allow you an insight into a wide range of social issues and problems, ranging from the most important and pressing facing the planet today, to every-day phenomena, central to the way society is organised, but that most people take for granted.

For example, have you ever thought about any of the following questions:

· Why are the populations of Western countries so wealthy and the populations of Third World countries so poor?

· Is an influx of migrant workers good for society?

· What exactly are 'market forces'? and why do most governments allow them to determine the allocation of resources in society?

· What causes unemployment?

· Why do prices sometimes rise very quickly, but sometimes rise very slowly?

· Why are some goods very expensive (e.g. caviar) and others so cheap (e.g. baked beans)?

· Why do economies often go through periods of strong growth followed by periods of slow growth or recession? Why are most Western economies about to go through a period of slow growth or recession?

· Why have most countries in Europe joined the European Union? Why have most of these countries given up their national currencies by adopting the Euro?

· What factors determine the prices of shares? Why do share prices on the world stock markets sometimes appear to fall uncontrollably?

· What role do financial markets play in an economy?

· Does international trade help the development of poorer countries?

· Why (usually) do governments (rather than 'market forces') provide certain goods and services such as street-lighting, armed forces, law enforcement, education, health services and roads?

· Does the government tax us too much or too little? What are the most appropriate ways for governments to raise revenue?

· Why are some countries (e.g. China, India) growing very quickly, while others are growing more slowly?

· Why is it that some regions within a country tend to be wealthy (e.g. the South of England) while other regions may be much less wealthy?

· Why are most goods produced by firms, often employing large numbers of people, rather than by self-employed individuals?

· Why are some industries dominated by one large firm (e.g. Microsoft Windows, computer operating system), whereas in other industries, many firms compete for business (e.g. car insurance)?

· Do long prison sentences reduce crime?

If you have, you will find the study of economics very interesting.

Economists answer the questions above by developing and applying theoretical economic principles to these issues in a rigorous and impartial manner. As a student of economics you will learn to develop theoretical models and apply them, in order to gain an understanding of the issues mentioned above as well as most other real world social phenomena.

2) Important Skills

As a student of economics you will also gain a highly marketable set of skills. With a degree in economics you will be able to:

· think analytically, critically and strategically,

· reduce complicated problems to their important components, and formulate solutions to these problems,

· apply up-to-date theoretical ideas as a framework for understanding the world around you,

· develop your numeracy, develop your ability to work on your own or as part of a team,

· communicate effectively, both verbally (presentational skills) and in writing.

3) Filthy Lucre!

Independent research suggests economists earn more than almost all other graduates. One study found that after 11 years, male economics graduates earned more than all other graduates except dentists (Belfield and Sloan 1996). Another study (Conlon et. al., 2002) showed that the graduate premium, that is the extra salary enjoyed by a University graduate compared to a peer who left school with two A levels or more, for male economics graduates is 26.8% and for female economics graduates is 39.3% . This premium is higher for economics graduates than a) other Arts graduates, b) other Social Sciences graduates, c) Maths graduates and d) Engineering graduates.

Why Study Economics at SSE?

· Rigorous Curriculum

· Innovative Teaching & Assessment


· Extra co-curricular activities


· Other facilities: ICT enabled lecture halls, library, Wi-Fi enabled campus, a well equipped Gymnasium, Canteen, Health Care Center, Auditorium, Hostel Accommodation (limited seats), Computer Lab, etc.

· The parents have access to the progress reports of their wards through a ‘student outreach central’ portal provided on the college website.

· Unique International Collaborations: SIU has collaboration with Georg-Simon-Ohm-Fachhochschule Nuremberg, Steinbeis University, Ontario Maharashtra & Goa, Erasmus Mundus, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Bremen Hochschule, Germany, Leeds Metropolitan, UK, Leibniz University, Hannover & Berlin School of Economics & Law. SSE students through SIU get the benefit of international exposure.

· In House Publication : The college editorial board which is an active body aims at publishing its first in-house magazine by 2011. All the faculty members & students have thought it to be imperative to come together to take this initiative.



Wikipedia India Education Program

The Symbiosis School of Economics has joined several other Pune colleges in participating in the Wikipedia India Education Program, a pilot initiative launched by the Wikimedia Foundation this year. The Wikipedia India Education Program is designed to encourage professors and teachers in Pune to join a growing global community of educators who use Wikipedia as a teaching and learning tool in their classrooms. Universities and colleges chosen for the pilot will have the opportunity to participate in the early stages of an innovative educational model that enables students to contribute to the world's largest online encyclopedia while increasing the breadth and quality of information found in this important global public resource.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

 Mr. Ajit Abhyankar :Guest Lecture On “Marx & Marxism”

10.09.11 -A Guest Lecture on “KARL MARX & MARXISM” was organized for the Second Year B.Sc. students of Symbiosis School of Economics on 10th September 11. The Resource Person was Mr. Ajit Abhyankar. Mr.Abhyankar explained the students about the holistic approach of Marx which included Dialectic materialism & Historical materialism. Then, he provided an insight into theory of labour, alienation theory & theory of value. The students found the session to be highly informative and rewarding.

OUTBOUND TO SUZLON

On 18.8.11 the students of the CSR certificate batch at SSE went for their outbound to Suzlon Foundation at Hadapsar, Pune. Suzlon as a group aims to provide a strong renewable energy platform thereby promising to power a greener tomorrow, today. Suzlon One Earth is the world headquarters of the Suzlon Group of Companies, Asia's largest wind energy provider. It is the largest building complex with a LEED Platinum rated green building status in the Indian Sub-continent. It is a living laboratory of sustainable technologies.Ms. Siobhan Perreira guided the students across the One Earth campus explaining to them the concepts of sustainability and how it is reflected in the Suzlon initiatives. This was followed by an exposure to the world of wind power, patiently explained by the Suzlon representatives with visual aids. Next the students had the privilege of engaging in an hour long interactive session with Ms. Seemantini Khot(Head- CSR, Suzlon Foundation).They were enriched from her experiences on the field dealing with the different stakeholders involved in any CSR project.

 Dr.Biswajit Dhar: M.Sc. Inaugural Lecture on ‘The New Economic Order- Challenges & Future’

30.08.11 -Dr. Biswajit Dhar, Director General of RIS (Research and Information System for Developing Countries), a New Delhi based autonomous think-tank under the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, was the chief guest at the inaugural talk for the M. Sc (Economics) Programme at the Symbiosis School of Economics (SSE). The session was attended by students and faculty from the various SIU institutions, as well as other prominent economists and faculties from various Economics Departments across the city.Dr. Dhar enthralled the audience with his insightful lecture on the emerging global economic order, its future and challenges. He brought in his experience of the political economy of international negotiation frameworks, to talk about issues of pressing concerns such as the fate of the Doha Round, the rise of China and the relative decline of the USA, etc. and the implications of these developments for India. He also touched upon the current crisis looming large in Europe and how the contagion effect is gradually spreading across a host of European nations. Correspondingly, he also spoke of the rise of the BRIC nations as a cluster of new engines of growth for the global economy. The response to the talk could be gauged from the elaborate follow-up session where students and faculty raised questions on topics as wide ranging as fiscal prudence, food security, domestic subsidies, multilateralism, shifts in global power, etc.