Economic Policy

The program focuses on understanding the possibilities, limitations, and consequences of economic policy, as well as on the ability to analyze economic developments in national, European, and international contexts. Students learn to critically engage with economic theories and professional literature, to search for and process economic data, and to use econometric and other quantitative methods to analyze economic phenomena and evaluate the effects of economic policy measures.

The program’s goal is to prepare graduates who can independently identify an economic problem, select an appropriate method for its analysis, work with relevant data and scholarly sources, interpret the results obtained, and, based on these results, formulate and professionally defend economically sound conclusions and recommendations.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the graduate is able to:

• explain and critically evaluate the main economic theories and approaches relevant to the analysis of economic policy;
• analyze economic policy issues using economic theory and assess the possibilities, limitations, and consequences of various economic policy instruments;
• apply econometric and other quantitative methods in the analysis of economic problems and interpret the results with regard to the method used and its limitations;
• independently search for, obtain, process, and analyze economic data from relevant domestic and international sources;
• analyze economic processes and economic policy in national, European, and global contexts, particularly in the areas of macroeconomic, monetary, and fiscal policy;
• critically analyze specialized economic literature, compare theoretical and empirical approaches, and apply them to solving economic problems;
• formulate, write up, present, and professionally defend the conclusions of an economic analysis in Czech and English before both expert and non-expert audiences.
• evaluate the effects of economic policy measures based on theoretical arguments and empirical evidence, and formulate economically sound recommendations for economic policy.

Graduates of the Economic Policy program are prepared to pursue careers primarily in analytical, strategic, and managerial positions in both the public and private sectors. They find employment in state and local government agencies, European Union institutions, and other national and international organizations, as well as in banks and financial institutions, research and analytical organizations, consulting firms, and the nonprofit sector.

Thanks to their ability to analyze economic problems, work with economic data, and evaluate the impacts of economic policy measures, graduates are particularly well-prepared for positions as economic and data analysts, public administration specialists, consultants, researchers, and managers focusing on economic and economic policy issues.

Practical training is not an obligatory part of the study plan. Students may attend a voluntary course of practical training.

The goal of the thesis is to demonstrate the student’s ability to independently define and analyze an economic problem using appropriate theoretical, empirical, and methodological approaches. The thesis is typically a theoretical, empirical, or applied economic analysis, and its focus corresponds to the learning objectives and outcomes of the degree program.

In preparing the thesis, the student demonstrates the ability to formulate the thesis objective and relevant research questions, critically engage with domestic and international academic literature, independently identify and process appropriate data, and select methods appropriate to the problem being addressed. The student is able to justify the theoretical and empirical approaches used, correctly interpret the results of the analysis, critically assess their validity and limitations, and place them within the context of existing scholarly knowledge.

The thesis must contain the student’s own analytical contribution. This may consist, in particular, of the student’s own empirical analysis, the application of economic or econometric methods, a critical comparison of theoretical or economic policy approaches, a case study, or an evaluation of a specific economic policy problem or measure. Based on the analysis conducted, the student formulates and academically justifies their own conclusions and, where appropriate, recommendations for economic policy.

The standard length and formal requirements for the master’s thesis are governed by the current regulations of the Faculty of Economics and Public Administration at Masaryk University.

After completing the Master’s degree study programme, it is possible to continue further studies in any doctoral degree study programme (after satisfying the admission requirements).