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Positive Political Economics (ECON40009)
HonoursPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides an overview of the field of political economics. Political economics extends the scope of standard economic analysis by assuming that individuals follow their own agenda and maximize their own utility not only in the economic, but also in the political sphere. The following broad areas will be covered: Determinants of institutional quality and its effects on economic performance; models of political competition and (re-)elections; various (so-called) political and institutional failures, including corruption and rent seeking, and delays in welfare-increasing reforms.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Reflect on determinants and effects of institutional quality;
- Explain different models of political competition;
- Understand when re-elections can discipline an incumbent government and when they can lead to inefficient policies;
- Apply models of political competition to understand observed policies;
- Discuss the main causes and effects of corruption;
- Apply lobbying and rent seeking models to understand observed policies;
- Understand why welfare-increasing reforms are often delayed; and
- Critically evaluate real-world policies from a political economics perspective.
Generic skills
- High level of development: written communication; problem solving; interpretation and analysis; critical thinking ; receptiveness to alternative ideas.
- Moderate level of development: oral communication; statistical reasoning; synthesis of data and other information; evaluation of data and other information; use of computer software; accessing data and other information from a range of sources.
- Some level of development: collaborative learning; team work.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into or selection of one of the following:
- BH-COM Bachelor of Commerce (Degree with Honours)
- Economics specialisation (formal) in the BH-ARTS Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)
AND
All of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ECON40001 | Advanced Microeconomics | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
ECON40002 | Advanced Macroeconomics | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ECON90037 | Positive Political Economics | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assignment 1
| Week 4 | 30% |
Assignment 2
| Week 9 | 30% |
End-of-semester examination
| During the examination period | 40% |
Additional details
Important online examination information: This examination is the equivalent of a 90-minute assessment; however, students are provided with 2-hours to accommodate the time that will be required for typesetting of mathematical expressions and the uploading of documents.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Eik Leong Swee Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 Hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Journal articles and the textbook Persson, T., and G. Tabellini, 2000, Political Economics: Explaining Economic Policy, MIT Press
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022