Course coordinator
Professor Ian MacKenzie
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Economics School
Extends microeconomic theory and demonstrates application to microeconomic policy issues; welfare economics, trade practices legislation, tariff policy and public enterprises.
In this course, students will learn to analyse microeconomic policies using economic approaches and concepts. The course builds on the theoretical framework introduced in Microeconomic Theory (ECON2010 or ECON2011), and begins by identifying the different sources of market failure. By the end of the course, students should not only have a greater awareness of the role of government in an economy, but also be able to analyse and critically evaluate policy issues using basic microeconomic tools. Topics covered include environmental policy, competition policy, health insurance, taxation, redistribution, and political economics.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course has two pre-requisites and knowledge is assumed from both of these courses.ﾠ Students attempting this course without satisfactorily completing both ECON 1050 and ECON 2010 may have difficulty in satisfying the assessment requirements for this course.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ECON1050 + (ECON2010 or 2011)
Course contact
School enquiries
Student Enquiries, School of Economics
All enquiries regarding student and academic administration (i.e. non-course content information, e.g., class allocation, timetables, extension to assessment due date, etc.) should be directed to enquiries@economics.uq.edu.au.
Enquiries relating specifically to course content should be directed to the Course Coordinator/Lecturer.
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Ian MacKenzie
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Tutorial Preferencing: Please refer to My Timetable (available via the my.UQ dashboard) for more information on the tutorial preferencing and allocation process. Tutorials will commence will commence in Teaching Week 2.
The timetable is published through the UQ Public Timetable found in the APPs section of myUQ. Students should refer to the timetable prior to the commencement of classes to ensure that they have the most up to date information, as from time to time late room changes may occur.
Please see the Learning Activities section of this Course Profile for the timetabling implications of public holidays.
Important dates:
- Public Holidays: Wed 13 August (Royal Queensland Show), Mon 6 October (King's Birthday).
- Mid-Semester Break: 29 September - 3 October. Semester 2 classes recommence Mon 30 September.
Aims and outcomes
The purpose of ECON2030 is to provide students with an economic framework that may be used to analyse microeconomic policy issues.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate knowledge of market failures and the justifications for government policy.
LO2.
Understand and apply the economic concepts and frameworks used in the study of microeconomic policy.
LO3.
Critically evaluate the economic and social outcomes, and ramifications of microeconomic policy changes.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Written assessment | 50% 2 Assessments (25% each) |
Report 1 (draft submission-optional): 3/09/2024 1:00 pm Report 1 (Final draft): 24/09/2024 1:00 pm Report 2: 22/10/2024 1:00 pm |
| Examination |
End-of-Semester Exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
Written assessment
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 50% 2 Assessments (25% each)
- Due date
Report 1 (draft submission-optional): 3/09/2024 1:00 pm
Report 1 (Final draft): 24/09/2024 1:00 pm
Report 2: 22/10/2024 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
- There will be 2 written assessment tasks (The first assessment is split into two submissions). Each assessment will contribute to 25% of your final mark.
- A maximum of 700 words, including all words, footnotes, text of tables and diagrams, headings, and in-text references (but excluding your reference list). Any text more than 700 words (excluding reference list) WILL NOT BE MARKED.
- Font Times New Roman, 12pt.
- No abstract required.
- Any referencing style may be used as long as you are consistent throughout.
- Submit via Turnitin prior to deadlines.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools. Further guidelines on how to appropriately use AI technologies in this assessment will be provided on Blackboard.
Submission guidelines
The assignment must be submitted electronically via TurnitIn.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extensions are limited to 7 calendar days to ensure timely feedback to other students.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
End-of-Semester Exam
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - specified written materials permitted |
| Materials | Bilingual dictionary |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0% - 29% |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30% - 46% |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47% - 49% |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50% - 64% |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65% - 74% |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75% - 84% |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85% - 100% |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
A student's final overall end of semester percentage mark will be rounded to determine their final grade. For example, 64.5% rounds to 65%, while 64.4% rounds to 64%.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Using AI at UQ
Visit the AI Student Hub for essential information on understanding and using Artificial Intelligence in your studies responsibly.
Plagiarism
The School of Economics is committed to reducing the incidence of plagiarism. You are encouraged to read the UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy available in the Policies and Procedures section of this course profile.
The Academic Integrity Module (AIM) outlines your obligations and responsibilities as a UQ student. It is compulsory for all new to UQ students to complete the AIM.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Additional class resources will be posted regularly on Blackboard including slides, tutorial questions, additional readings, and class notices.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
Topic 1 Introduction and Welfare Foundations Readings/Ref: Rosen (pages 2-5, Chapter 3) Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Lecture |
Topic 2 Environmental Policy I Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 5) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Lecture |
Topic 2 Environmental Policy II Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 5) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Wednesday 13/08/2025 - Royal Queensland Show public holiday No tutorials on Wednesday. Students are invited to attend an alternative tutorial for this week only. |
|
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
Guest Lecture Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Lecture |
Topic 3 Competition policy Readings/Ref: Abelson (Chapter 14) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Lecture |
Topic 4 Information Failures and Health Insurance Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 9) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Lecture |
Topic 5 Redistribution Part I - Measurement and Concepts Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 12) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Lecture |
Topic 5 Redistribution II - Work Incentives and the Labour-Leisure Model Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 13 and pages 415-424); Perloff (Section 5.5) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Lecture |
Topic 6 Taxation I - Background and Incidence Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 14) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
No Lecture, no tutorials |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Lecture |
Topic 6 Taxation Part II - Efficiency Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapters 15 and 16) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Monday 6/10/2025 - King's Birthday Public Holiday No tutorials on this day. Students are invited to attend an alternative tutorial for this week only. |
|
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Lecture |
Topic 7 Political economics Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 6) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Lecture |
Topic 7 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Lecture |
Spillovers & Review Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.