MA Economics Syllabus & Subjects 2025

MA Economics Syllabus mainly includes subjects such as Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Mathematics for Economics, Agricultural Economics, Labour Economics, Developmental Economics, etc. MA Economics is a 2-year master’s degree programme wherein students get a chance to delve deeper into the theoretical perspectives of economics and learn to put these principles into practice. Students learn about research methods that can be used to conduct economic surveys, collect data, and make an analysis. Under the MA Economics subjects list, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Statistics are some of the significant topics that are covered.

The MA Economics course is a 2-year postgraduate programme that is divided into 4 semesters. With a master’s degree in Economics, students learn to analyze, research, conduct surveys, and collect data to conclude their findings with ample evidence and material. Students can specialize in several areas such as Political Economy, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Introduction to Research and Qualitative Methods, Public Policy, and more. Scroll down to go through the semester-wise subjects list for the MA Economics course. The detailed syllabus for the MA Economics course along with the specializations offered is given below.

Read the major highlights of the MA Economics syllabus and subjects in the table attached below:

MA in Economics Syllabus includes major topics like microeconomics, econometrics, macroeconomics, statistics, mathematics for economics, etc. required to be studied by the students to gain in-depth knowledge about Economics as a whole. The syllabus for the MA Economics course has been divided into 4 semesters. The total number of subjects in an MA Economics course can vary from 4 to 5 subjects per semester. The subjects list for the MA Economics programme can vary from institute to institute, however, the core concepts, more or less, remain the same. If you are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in Economics, then you must read out the course outcomes as provided herewith:

• As a course, the Master of Arts in Economics programme empowers the students with the required skills, such as problem-solving skills, data analysis, analytical skills, etc.
• It creates awareness about the Government’s initiatives and policies.
• It makes the students familiar with theoretical concepts, etc.
• The course prepares the students for a research career or a career that has jobs through entrepreneurship facilities.
• Additionally, through the optional MA Economics course subjects, students get an opportunity to specialize in their preferred areas.

The year and semester-wise generic MA Economics course syllabus is mentioned below to give a rough idea to students wishing to enroll for this course in the next academic session.

MA Economics 1st Year Syllabus

The table below contains the list of MA Economics subjects in the first year (semester 1 and semester 2):

MA Economics 2nd Year Syllabus

The table below contains the list of MA Economics subjects in the second year (semester 3 and semester 4):

MA Economics subjects list consists of both core and optional papers. With the help of these subjects, students gain competency in handling ongoing economic-related issues by applying theoretical knowledge to get real-time solutions. Students learn the methods utilized to assess the current state of the economy based on the knowledge they acquire from a master’s degree in Economics. Some of the key learning benefits of the MA Economics course are given below:

• The students understand the concepts of economic growth and development and how to evaluate them with the help of certain research methods.
• Students comprehend the importance of trade in a nation’s economy, alternative policies, and their implementations to address environmental problems.
• The course learning enables the students to identify different factors affecting global cooperation used to resolve environmental problems.
• Microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts, sequential games, mixed strategies, static optimization, etc. will be cleared to them.
• Through the course, they will learn about the structure and characteristics of the Indian agricultural sector.
• Competency in handling the mathematical tools, calculation, and application of different techniques in real economic scenarios.
   

MA Economics Compulsory Subjects

Listed below are some of the core subjects taught under the MA Economics course:
 

Microeconomics

• Theory of Consumer Behaviour
• Theory of Production and Cost
• Market Structure
   

Macroeconomics

• Classical Approach, Keynesian Approach, and Monetarism
• New Classical Macroeconomics and New Keynesianism
• Imperfect Completion Approach
   

Statistics

• Probability and Probability Distributions
• Sampling and Sampling Distributions
• Methods of Statistical inference
   

Mathematics for Economics

• Functions and Calculus
• Matrix, Determinant, and Differential Equations
• Linear Programming, Game Theor,y and Input-Output Analysis
   

Open-Economy Macroeconomics

• The Open Economy
• Inflation and Unemployment in the Open Economy
• Further Open Economy Topics
   

General Equilibrium and Welfare Economics

• Partial Equilibrium and General Equilibrium Analysis
• Social Choice & Welfare
• Market Failure
   

Indian Economic Policy

• Development Concept and Issues in Governance
• Sectoral Development and Policy Reforms
• Policy Approaches in Fiscal, Financial and External Sector
   

Development and Growth History

• Economic Growth and Development
• Economic Growth- Theory and Practice
• Poverty, Income Distribution, and Justice
   

International Trade

• Trade Theories 1 (Classical and Neo-Classical)
• Trade Theories 2 (Modern Theories and Trade Policy)
• India and the World Economy
   

Environmental Economic I

• Environmental Economics: Setting and Scope
• Eco-System and Natural Resources
• Environmental Capital—Theory, Practice, and Evaluation

The optional subjects in the MA Economics syllabus can vary from institute to institute. Here are some of the most common subjects offered by most universities under their MA Economics curriculum:

Under the MA Economics course syllabus, students get to study core subjects such as Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, Mathematical Economics, Statistics, etc. Students also get an opportunity to dig deeper into Research Methodology, Development Economics, and other similar subjects. The curriculum of MA Economics emphasizes microeconomic theory which covers a wide range of subjects such as consumer behaviour, supply, and demand, production, costs, market structures, etc. On the other hand, under Macroeconomics, a holistic approach to dealing with the current state of the economy is taught to the students.

It encompasses diverse topics including GDP, inflation rates unemployment figures–even extending its reach to monetary policy fiscal strategies trade considerations growth models etcetera Equipped with econometric skills, students can statistically estimate economic models; concurrently, they utilise mathematical tools--such as calculus, linear algebra and optimization techniques--in mathematical economics: a discipline that represents economic theories and problems through the application of these precise methodologies.

In the field of economics research, statistics imparts crucial data analysis skills. Similarly, through rigorous academic training that includes mastering qualitative and quantitative research methods along with honing writing abilities; students are prepared for scholarly pursuits in various disciplines. Moreover - development economics scrutinises the economic progress of developing countries: a branch deeply rooted within this intricate landscape in constant evolution.

Throughout the programme, we emphasise the application of economic concepts and analytical skills. Electives open a gateway for students to amass specialised knowledge in fields such as finance, international economics, and public economics among others. The MA Economics curriculum equips students with robust theoretical foundations along with research capabilities essential for comprehending economic systems and formulating policies.

The list of common subjects in an MA Economics course can differ according to the university you choose; however, some subjects that are common for all the semesters of the MA Economics programme are mentioned in the table below:

Here are some of the common specialization options offered in MA Economics programmes:

• Financial Economics: The topic is all about financial markets, the banking system, investments, and monetary policy. These are the backbone of all the major financial functions including financial analysis, risk management, etc.
• Public Policy and Development Economics: Tackles economic policy, social programs, and problems like poverty or income disparities. Involved in the positions of think tanks, international institutions, and government agencies.
• Business Economics and Econometrics: Reviews managerial economics, forecasting models, and data analytics. Provides market access and entry to corporate roles in strategy, analytics, business planning, and consulting.
• Actuarial Science: The science concerned with the precise calculation of risk and uncertainty. An actuary carries out risk analysis in finance, insurance, and risk management. An advanced statistical and data capability is demanded.
• Data Science: This mixes economics with computer science, machine learning, and tools for big data analysis. In the data analyst field, in business intelligence as professionals, and for quantitative researchers.
• Environmental and Resource Economics - Deals with the economic aspects related to climate change, sustainability, energy policy, and conservation.

The method of teaching in MA Economics distance education is quite different from the teaching followed in conventional universities. The education system followed in distance education is more student-oriented. The time and duration for the course are set up as per the students’ requirements. Usually, the universities providing distance education follow a multi-dimensional approach to teaching. They use print material, assignments, audio-visual material etc, to provide the required learning to the students. Though the students are taught through the distance mode, but universities conduct face-to-face interaction based on requirements.

A notable advantage of the MA Economics distance education is that it offers flexibility in terms of duration and openness for course completion. The course duration is 2 years which can be extended up to 5 years as required. The course duration varies for different distance-learning universities. The MA Economics course syllabus for the distance program is designed according to the instructions and suggestions of the experts. A student can complete the MA Economics syllabus for the distance program within 2 years if studied in a systematic manner. The course structure includes the MA Economics course subjects and assignments. Study materials provided by the universities offer great help in studying the MA Economics subjects. One can complete the assignments based on the learning of these study materials as well.

The table below details the subjects of the MA Economics syllabus studied in distance education. This is a generic syllabus of the Master of Economics course followed in the distance mode of learning. One can take an idea from the information provided below:

Here’s the MA in Economics syllabus for IGNOU:

MA Economics Admissions 2025 is conducted based on both, merit and entrance examinations. The entrance exams for the MA Economics course are the CUET PG exam, PUBDET exam, and the Azim Premji University exam. Check out the details of some of the most popular entrance exams for MA in Economics in the table attached below:

Books are a reliable means of recognizing and understanding different areas of a subject. The same holds true for MA Economics books. The books are available for most of the MA Economics course subjects. They are invaluable as they explain the topics in depth. To illustrate any concepts, the writers include graphs, charts, tables, etc. These illustrative materials help the students to grasp the learning in a better way.  With the help of these books, the students get familiarized with the core concepts as well as different terminologies used in the field. The researcher and experts effectively scan the learning requirements of the students and prepare these books accordingly. Apart from providing an understanding of the concepts, they also give some ideas for future research. And thus, the MA Economics books become helpful for students who possess an interest in research studies for the future.

Check out the list of books that you can refer to crack the entrance examinations for MA Economics admissions:

The MA Economics course structure is formulated in a pattern that helps the students gain a sound understanding of the theoretical concepts of Economics and its related areas. The MA Economics course syllabus is segregated into numerous sections. It includes topics and each topic usually comes under a unit title. Classical Macroeconomics, neo-classical macroeconomics, methods of statistical inference, linear Programming, Game Theory, and Input-Output Analysis are some of the topics covered in the MA Economics syllabus. This semester-based course structure has certain objectives. And the basic goal is to make the students acquainted with those topics in an in-depth manner. Thus, they achieve a strong understanding and competency in those concepts. The combined form of core and optional courses provides a practical approach to the entire course format. Studying the compulsory papers is mandatory while the students are allowed to choose optional papers as per their interests. To support the course structure, universities and colleges execute different teaching pedagogies like lecture-based teaching, conceptualized learning, internships, projects, group projects, seminars, etc. The course structure targets to provide an overall understanding along with industry experience. By following the format, students develop the required competency and expand their knowledge of key areas of Economics in an easy manner.

The list below shows a brief of the MA Economics course structure:

·    Four Semesters

·    Core Subjects

·    Optional Subjects

·    Projects