BA economics subjects and syllabus are centred on the foundation course topics like microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and statistics. In addition, the BA in Economics course also includes connected specialised subjects like public economics, finance markets, development and international trade, which can help the students to custom fit according to their career goals and aspirations.
According to UGC, the BA economics subject list contains 14 core subjects, which are compulsory throughout the six semesters. In addition, BA economics honours subjects contain four Discipline-Specific Elective (DSE) courses. The DSE courses become available to students in the fifth and sixth semesters and they must choose 2 of them each semester to graduate.
It is through these core subjects that students develop essential skills of quantitative ability and critical thinking. Students who go through BA economics subjects PDF learn data literacy and critical thinking, which include advanced analytical skills. Such skills put students on the path to well-paid, professionally challenging careers.
Candidates can check the details related to the BA Economics syllabus and course in the table below:
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Course Name | BA Economics |
Full Name | Bachelor of Arts in Economics |
Course Level | Undergraduate |
Course Mode | Full Time, Distance Learning, Online |
Course Eligibility Criteria | Class 12th Board exams with at least 50% aggregate marks |
Duration | 3 Years |
Top Entrance Exams | CUET, BHU UET, Symbiosis Entrance Test, NPAT, PUCET |
Course Fee | Up to INR 5 lakh |
Average Salary | INR 3 to 6 lakh |
Top Recruiting Companies | KPMG, The Economist, World Bank, IMF, CRISIL |
Top Colleges/Universities for BA Economics Syllabus | Delhi University, IPU, BHU, JMI, Aligarh Muslim University, Chitkara University, Chandigarh University, etc. |
All BA Economics subjects are taught to help undergraduates expand their understanding of economics. The syllabus includes a vast variety of topics ranging from Financial Systems to Foreign Economics Theory. Provided below are the BA Economics subjects that are covered in the course duration of 3 years.
Check out the BA economics syllabus 1st year, divided into Semesters 1 and 2 syllabus:
Semester I | Semester II |
---|---|
Subject Matter of Economics | Introduction To Macroeconomics & National Income Accounting |
Supply & Demand | Money |
The Households | Inflation |
The Firm and Perfect Market Structure | The Closed Economy In The Short Run |
Imperfect Market Structure | Differential Equation |
Input Markets | Linear Algebra |
Preliminaries | Functions Of Several Real Variables |
Functions Of One Real Variable | Multi-Variable Optimisation |
Single Variable Optimisation | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course - 2 |
Integration Of Functions | General Elective Course- 2 |
Difference Equations | |
Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course - 1 | |
General Elective Course- 1 |
After the BA 1st year economics syllabus, captured below is the 2nd year syllabus and subjects:
Semester III | Semester IV |
---|---|
Consumer Theory | General Equilibrium, Efficiency And Welfare |
Production, Costs And Perfect Competition | Market Structure And Game Theory |
Aggregate Demand And Aggregate Supply Curves | Market Failure |
Inflation, Unemployment, And Expectations | Economic Growth |
Open Economy Models | Microeconomic Foundations |
Statistical Methods: Intro And Overview | Fiscal And Monetary Policy |
Elementary Probability Theory | Schools Of Macroeconomic Thoughts |
Random Variables And Probability Distributions | Nature And Scope Of Econometrics |
Random Sampling And Jointly Distributed Random Variables | Statistical Concepts |
Sampling | Simple Linear Regression Model: Two Variable Case |
Point And Interval Estimation | Multiple Linear Regression Model |
Skill Enhancement Course (SEC)- 1 | Violations of Classical Assumptions: Consequences, Detection And Remedies |
General Elective Course- 3 | Specification Analysis |
Skill Enhancement Course- 2 | |
General Elective Course- 4 |
Check out the BA Economics subjects 3rd year here:
Semester V | Semester VI |
---|---|
Economic Development Since Independence | Macroeconomic Policies & Their Impact |
Population And Human Development | Policies And Performance In Agriculture |
Growth And Distribution | Policies And Performance In Industry |
International Comparisons | Trends And Performance In Services |
Conceptions Of Development | Demography And Development |
Growth Models And Empirics | Land, Labour, And Credit Markets |
Poverty And Inequality: Definitions, Measures & Mechanisms | Individuals, Communities, And Collective Outcomes |
Political Institutions & The Functioning Of The State | Environment And Sustainable Development |
Discipline-Specific Elective (Group 1) (Choose Any Two)
| Globalisation |
Discipline-Specific Elective (Group 2) (Choose Any Two)
|
BA Economics syllabus comprises both core and elective courses. Here are the various main BA Economics Subjects taught in the programme. Candidates must note that some BA Economics subjects are related to social science while some are related to mathematimiddle-incomecs.
Subjects | Description of Subjects |
---|---|
Macroeconomics | The subject largely focuses on the performance of economies such as inflation, changes in economic output, the balance of payments and interest and foreign exchange rates. |
Microeconomics | The subject briefs about what is expected to happen (tendencies) when an individual makes choices in response to changes in prices, incentives, methods of production, and/ or resources. |
Indian Economy | The Indian Economy is a middle income developing market economy. This subject is a complete study on the nation’s Economy and all aspects of the system which manages the Economic activities of India. |
Economics Statistics | Closely related to econometrics and business statistics, Economics Statistics is all about the dissemination, collection, compilation, processing, and analysis of economic data. |
Econometrics | The subject uses mathematics, statistical inference and economic theory to quantify economic phenomena. In other words, in this subject candidates learn about how to turn theoretical economic models into useful tools for economic policymaking. |
History of Economics | It is a compiled study of the philosophies of the several theories and thinkers that later became political economy and economics. It covers the development of the Indian economy from the ancient world to the present day. |
According to the BA economics syllabus 2024, the following common subjects are taught to the students in the prescribed semesters:
Other common BA economics core subjects 1st year, 2nd, and 3rd years are as follows:
While the sequence may differ, these foundational theory and statistical cum mathematics courses are expected to be requirements across semesters for a BA in Economics course.
There are just two great entrance exams conducted at the national and university level in India that offer entry to BA Economics: CUET UG and IPU CET. However, many institutions conduct their entrance test for admitting candidates into the BA Economics program.
Here are the BA economics subjects for entrance exam 1st year for CUET UG 2024 and IPU CET 2024:
The CUET UG syllabus for BA economics covers subjects that are given below:
Students would be required to have a conceptual understanding of such subject matter and apply economic reasoning to solve problems. The assessment will thus be of logical reasoning; quantitative ability and language comprehension as applicable to the domain of Economics.
The broad BA Economics subjects and syllabus for IPU CET shall include Micro and Macro Economics, Statistical and Mathematical Economics. These major topics include the theory of consumer behaviour and demand, production, cost analysis, market structures and price determination, national income accounting, determination of income and employment, money and banking, the balance of payments, economic growth and development, and statistical tools such as measures of central tendency, correlation, and regression. The principles of the subject, the ability to analyse any situation of the real world from an economic point of view, and the application of mathematical and statistical tools are tested in the examination.
UGC has specified BA economics Discipline-Specific Electives, which are a must in semesters 5 and 6 or the third year of the degree. There are two groups, out of which students must choose at least 2 in each semester. In total, a candidate studies 4 Discipline-Specific Electives.
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
---|---|
Discipline-Specific Elective (Group 1) (Choose Any Two)
| Discipline-Specific Elective (Group 2) (Choose Any Two)
|
BA Economics is offered through regular mode as well as Distance mode. In distance mode, candidates not only have the flexibility of time but also are taught BA Economics course subjects through online mode. The course fees for BA Economics Distance Courses are also less when compared to the traditional courses. The BA Economics Syllabus for distance courses is very similar to the regular BA Economics syllabus. The semester-wise topics and subjects that are often included in the course curriculum of a distance learning programme are as follows:
Semester I | Semester II |
---|---|
Evolution and Definition of Economics | Economies of Scale |
Methods of Economics Analysis | Concept of Revenue |
Inductive & Deductive Logic, Merit and Demerits | Marginal & Average Costs & their relationship |
Nature & Scope of Economics | Different Concepts of Costs Explicit & Implicit |
Administered and Non- Non-Administered Prices | Accounting, Opportunity, Total Fixed and Variable Costs |
Value and Price | Perfect Competition Characteristics |
Commodities and their types | Break Even Point |
Cardinal (Marshal) and Ordinal Utility | Total, Marginal & Average Revenue |
Utility Demand, Supply | Characteristics and Price- Output Determination |
Market | Concept and Classification |
Approaches to Demand | Market Equilibrium |
Demand- Supply Equilibrium | Price and Output Determination for Firm and Industry |
Indifference Curve: Consumer equilibrium (Hichs & Slutsky) | Monopolistic Competition |
Price, Income and Substitution effects | Theory of Marginal Productivity of Distribution |
Price, Income and Cross Elasticity | Price Discrimination |
Derivation of Demand Curve | Characteristics Price- Output Determination |
Consumer Surplus and its measurement | Theories of Wages and Rent: Classical and Modern |
Elasticity of Demand | Factor Pricing |
Laws of Production | Interest: Concept, Classical and Keynesian Theories of Interest |
Returns to Factor and Return to Scale | Concept of Adding up Theorem |
Factors of Production and Their Characteristics | Profit: Net and Gross |
Semester III | Semester IV |
Structure of Indian Economy – Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sectors | Infrastructure of Indian Economy |
Population, Size, Sex, Rural-Urban Classification | Human Infrastructure of the Indian Economy |
Population Distribution | Banking and Insurance |
Natural Resources, Land, Water, Forest | Sources of Credit in Agriculture, Irrigation |
Mineral Resources | Irrigation, Power, Transport, Communication |
Agriculture: Nature and Importance | Planning in India- Objectives, Types, Strategy |
Major Industries in India: Iron and Steel, Textile, Sugar, Cement, Automobiles | Agricultural Situation in the Economy |
Demographic Features | Economy- Land, land Utilization Pattern |
Cropping Pattern | Housing and Sanitation. |
Land Reforms: Green Revolution | Health, Nutrition, Education, Knowledge and Skills |
Land Use Pattern | Demographic Features of M.P. |
Trends in Agriculture Production and Productivity | Analysis of the Current Five-Year Plan |
Recent National Population Policy | Agro-Climatic Zones |
Mechanisation | Production and Productivity of Main Crops |
Rural Credit | Natural Resources- Forest, Water & Mineral |
Agricultural Marketing | Cropping Pattern |
Semester V | Semester VI |
Macro Variables- Stock and Flow | Public Finance and Public Economics |
Concept of National Income- GDP, GNP | Public, Private and Merits Goods |
National Income and Economic Welfare | Sources of Revenue- Taxes, Loans, Grants and Aids |
Measurement of National Income and Social Accounting in India | Market and State- Role and Functions |
Circular Flow of income | Principles of Public Debt and Methods of Redaction |
Consumption Function | Principle of Maximum Social Advantage |
Keynesian Theory of Employment | Public Finance in India Banking and Insurance |
Classical Theory of Employment | Canons of Taxation |
Effective Demand | Principles of Public Expenditure |
Factors Affecting Consumption | Wagener’s Law- Increasing Activities |
Factors Affecting Capital Formation | Fiscal Deficit |
Simple Investment | Latest Budget |
Here are some of the most helpful and important BA economics subjects books 1st year and subsequent years for your reference:
Category | Book Title | Author(s) |
---|---|---|
Introductory Microeconomics | Principles of Microeconomics | N. Gregory Mankiw |
Principles of Microeconomics | Karl E. Case and Ray C. | |
Economics | Joseph E. Stiglitz and Carl E. Walsh | |
Introductory Macroeconomics | Macroeconomics | N. Gregory Mankiw |
Macroeconomics | Dornbusch, Fischer and Startz | |
Macroeconomics | Olivier Blanchard | |
Macroeconomics | Richard T. Froyen | |
Macroeconomics | Andrew B. Abel and Ben S. Bernanke | |
Macroeconomics | Errol D‘Souza | |
International Macroeconomics | Paul R. Krugman, Maurice Obstfeld and Marc Melitz | |
Intermediate Microeconomics | Intermediate Microeconomics, a Modern Approach | Hal R. Varian |
Fundamentals of Microeconomics | C. Snyder and W. Nicholson | |
Microeconomics | B. Douglas Bernheim and Michael D. Whinston | |
Intermediate Macroeconomics- I | Macroeconomics | Olivier Blanchard |
Macroeconomics | Dornbusch, Fischer and Startz | |
Macroeconomics | N. Gregory Mankiw | |
Macroeconomics | Andrew B. Abel and Ben S. Bernanke | |
Macroeconomics | Errol D‘Souza | |
Rational Expectations | Steven M. Sheffrin | |
International Macroeconomics | Paul R. Krugman, Maurice Obstfeld and Marc Melitz | |
Intermediate Macroeconomics- II | Macroeconomics | Olivier Blanchard |
Macroeconomics | Dornbusch, Fischer and Startz | |
Macroeconomics | N. Gregory Mankiw | |
Macroeconomics | Andrew B. Abel and Ben S. Bernanke | |
Macroeconomics | Errol D‘Souza | |
Introduction To Economic Growth | Charles I. Jones | |
Macroeconomics | Robert J. Gordon | |
Introductory Econometrics | Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach | Jeffrey Wooldridge |
Probability and Statistics for Engineers | Jay L. Devore | |
Mathematical Statistics | John E. Freund | |
An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and its Applications | Richard J. Larsen and Morris L. Marx | |
Essentials of Econometrics | D. N. Gujarati and D.C. Porter | |
Elements of Econometrics | Jan Kmenta | |
Introduction to Econometrics | Christopher Dougherty | |
Indian Economy | Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh |
Indian Economy | Indian Economy | Uma Kapila (series) |
Economic Development | Development Economics | Debraj Ray |
Mathematical Methods in Economics- I | Mathematics for Economic Analysis | K. Sydsaeter and P. Hammond |
Mathematical Methods in Economics- II | Mathematics for Economic Analysis | K. Sydsaeter and P. Hammond |
Statistical Methods for Economics | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | Jay L. Devore |
Mathematical Statistics | John E. Freund | |
An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and its Applications | Richard J. Larsen and Morris L. Marx | |
Sampling Techniques | William G. Cochran |
The BA economics course structure in India according to UGC has 14 core subjects spread across 14 semesters- 4 in the first year, 6 in the second, and 4 in the third year. Additionally, 4 DSE courses (Discipline-Specific electives) have to be chosen by the candidates in the third year (2 from group 1 in semester 5 and 2 from group 2 in semester 6). Here is the tabular representation of the BA economics course structure:
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Introductory Microeconomics | Introductory Macroeconomics |
Mathematical Methods for Economics-I | Mathematical Methods for Economics-II |
Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC)-I | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC)-II |
Generic Elective (GE) Course-I | Generic Elective (GE) Course-II |
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
Intermediate Microeconomics-I | Intermediate Microeconomics-II |
Intermediate Macroeconomics-I | Intermediate Macroeconomics-II |
Statistical Methods for Economics | Introductory Econometrics |
Skill Enhancement Course (SEC)-I | Skill Enhancement Course (SEC)-II |
Generic Elective (GE) Course-III | Generic Elective (GE) Course-IV |
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
Indian Economy-I | Indian Economy-II |
Development Economics-I | Development Economics-II |
Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Course-I (From List of Group-I) | Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Course-III (From List of Group-II) |
Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Course-II (From List of Group-I) | Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Course-IV (From List of Group-II) |
This is just a simple comparison of the BA Economics and BSc Economics syllabi:
- BA in Economics: This course shall deal with the theoretical concepts and principles of Economics, concentrating on the understanding of economic theories applied to real-life issues.
-BSc Economics: It has a more significant weight in the quantitative and mathematical side of the course, using rigorous mathematical and statistical tools in the analysis of economic issues.
In simple terms, the BA Economics syllabus has a focus on its theoretical foundations and the BSc Economics focuses on the quantitative and mathematical dimensions of economics.
The BA Economics syllabus may pose challenges, particularly for those less familiar with mathematical and economic concepts. Nevertheless, success is entirely attainable with dedication and diligence. Staying organized, attending classes consistently, and reaching out to professors or tutors for assistance when necessary are essential strategies for overcoming these challenges.
Certainly, BA Economics is available in the distance learning format at certain universities and institutions in India. Distance education programs offer flexibility and accessibility, catering to students who cannot participate in traditional classroom settings. The curriculum and syllabus for distance BA Economics programs usually mirror those of regular programs, with assessments conducted through a mix of assignments, examinations, and projects.
The course duration of BA Economics typically ranges from 3 to 4 years, depending on the specific program and whether it is pursued full-time or part-time. This translates to a total duration of approximately 36 to 48 months.
Electives offered in BA Economics can vary depending on the university, but some common options include:
- Behavioral Economics
- Game Theory
- Industrial Economics
- Agricultural Economics
- Health Economics
- Public Economics II
- Labor Economics
- International Finance
- Development Economics II
- Econometrics for Development Economics