Economics For Public Policy (ECON90029)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2025

You’re viewing the 2025 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks

Overview

FeesLook up fees

The course introduces students to the economic principles and framework used by economists to consider issues of public policy. The importance of rigorous analysis in problem solving is emphasised. The policy areas likely to be covered will be taken from public finance, industry policy, competition policy, micro-economic reform, taxation and income distribution, as well as health, education and infrastructure provision. The emphasis is on current issues and so the actual policies covered may vary in response to current events.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:



  • Apply economic concepts in a rigorous way in a public policy context, but in a way that is useful to non-economists;
  • Analyse policy-related information to identify relevant matters for economic analysis;
  • Combine different economic theories in a way that is meaningful and useful in developing and assessing public policies over a range of subject areas;
  • Evaluate the relevance of alternative economic theories for analysing different policy issues.

Generic skills

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:

  • Written communication
  • Oral communication
  • Problem solving
  • Application of theory to practice
  • Interpretation and analysis
  • Critical thinking
  • Receptiveness to alternative ideas

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Admission into or selection of one of the following:

  • PD-ARTS Public Policy and Management informal specialisation in the PD-ARTS Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
  • 344AB Master of Public Policy and Management
  • 706AA Master of Social Policy

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

MC-ECO Master of Economics

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: 4 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Group assignment composed of a 5000-word group and a presentation in group of 4 students. Presentation's slides must be sent to the lecturer who will post them on LMS. 

  • 35 minutes
Week 1030%

End-of-semester examination

  • 3 hours
Hurdle requirement: Successful completion of this subject requires a pass (50%) in the final exam.		During the examination period70%
Hurdle requirement: Successful completion of this subject requires a pass (50%) in the final exam and a pass (50%) for the weighted average of the final exam and mid-term assignment (0.7*mark_exam + 0.3*mark_mid_term-assignment >= 50).Throughout the teaching periodN/A

Additional details

Important online examination information: This examination is the equivalent of a 2-hour assessment; however, students are provided with 3-hours to accommodate the time that will be required for typesetting of mathematical expressions and the uploading of documents.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

Not available in 2025

Time commitment details

Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours per semester

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.

  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

  • 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: 4 March 2025