Business Economics/Social & Public Policy

Business economics and social and public policy is a combination that sits at the meeting point of analytical economics, organisational strategy, and the study of how governments and public institutions design and implement policies that shape people's lives. Business economics focuses on the economic concepts most directly relevant to how firms operate, including resource allocation, market structure, pricing, investment decisions, and the regulatory environments in which businesses work. Social and public policy extends the analysis to the collective level, examining how policy choices in areas such as welfare, education, health, and housing are made, evaluated, and contested.

At Glasgow this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, adding international perspective to your understanding of both disciplines. The business economics component equips you with the analytical tools and strategic insights needed to navigate complex economic landscapes, drawing on real-world case studies and current research to build a sound understanding of how economic forces drive business decisions and global markets. The social and public policy element develops your ability to evaluate policy options critically, to understand the interests and evidence that shape policy choices, and to analyse the social consequences of those choices.

Together, the two disciplines give you the capacity to understand the economy as both a driver of business behaviour and a context shaped by public decisions.

Graduates of this combination find careers in economic consultancy, public policy analysis, the civil service, research organisations, international bodies, health and social care management, local government, and private sector strategy roles. The ability to move between economic analysis and policy understanding is valued in organisations that need people who can assess the economic implications of public decisions and the social implications of economic behaviour. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in economics, public policy, social policy, or public administration.