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Course profile

Microeconomic Policy (ECON2030)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
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), 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

Tutor

Mr Luke Ames
Ms Stephanie Deeb
Miss Jessie Ha

Senior tutor

Mr Anthony Whitsed

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 14 August (Royal Queensland Show), Mon 7 October (King's Birthday).
  • Mid-Semester Break: 23 - 29 September. 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 100% 4 Assessments (25% each)

Report 1 (Part 1): 23/08/2024 3:00 pm

Report 1 (Part 2): 12/09/2024 1:00 pm

Report 2: 3/10/2024 1:00 pm

Report 3: 17/10/2024 1:00 pm

Report 4: 7/11/2024 1:00 pm

Assessment details

Written assessment

Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
100% 4 Assessments (25% each)
Due date

Report 1 (Part 1): 23/08/2024 3:00 pm

Report 1 (Part 2): 12/09/2024 1:00 pm

Report 2: 3/10/2024 1:00 pm

Report 3: 17/10/2024 1:00 pm

Report 4: 7/11/2024 1:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

  • There will be 4 written assessment tasks (The first assessment is split into two submissions). Each assessment will contribute to 25% of your final mark; making up at total of 100%.
  • 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.

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

Plagiarism

The School of Economics is committed to reducing the incidence of plagiarism. Further information on plagiarism and how to avoid an allegation of plagiarism is available in this course profile under Policies & Guidelines. Please refer to the Academic Integrity Module (AIM). It is strongly recommended that you complete the AIM if you have not already done so.

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.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1

(22 Jul - 28 Jul)

Lecture

Topic 1

Introduction and Welfare Foundations

Readings/Ref: Rosen (pages 2-5, Chapter 3)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02

Week 2

(29 Jul - 04 Aug)

Lecture

Topic 2

Environmental Policy I

Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 5)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 3

(05 Aug - 11 Aug)

Lecture

Topic 2

Environmental Policy II

Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 5)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 4

(12 Aug - 18 Aug)

No student involvement (Breaks, information)

Wednesday 14/08/2024 - Royal Queensland Show public holiday

No lecture and tutorials on Wednesday. Students are invited to attend an alternative tutorial for this week only.

Week 5

(19 Aug - 25 Aug)

Lecture

Guest Lecture

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 6

(26 Aug - 01 Sep)

Lecture

Topic 3

Competition policy

Readings/Ref: Abelson (Chapter 14)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 7

(02 Sep - 08 Sep)

Lecture

Topic 4

Information Failures and Health Insurance

Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 9)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 8

(09 Sep - 15 Sep)

Lecture

Topic 5

Redistribution Part I - Measurement and Concepts

Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 12)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 9

(16 Sep - 22 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

Mid Sem break

(23 Sep - 29 Sep)

No student involvement (Breaks, information)

No Lecture, no tutorials

Week 10

(30 Sep - 06 Oct)

Lecture

Topic 6

Taxation I - Background and Incidence

Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 14)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 11

(07 Oct - 13 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 7/10/2024 - King's Birthday Public Holiday

No tutorials on this day. Students are invited to attend an alternative tutorial for this week only.

Week 12

(14 Oct - 20 Oct)

Lecture

Topic 7

Political economics

Readings/Ref: Rosen (Chapter 6)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 13

(21 Oct - 27 Oct)

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:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.