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Economics
Bachelor of ArtsMajorYear: 2025
Economics
Contact information
Coordinator
Professor Phillip McCalman
Department of Economics
Email: econ-major@unimelb.edu.au
Currently enrolled students:
Future students:
Overview
Economists study how people choose to allocate resources. They look at the behaviour of individuals, organisations and governments to understand how markets function. Economics is essential to modern life. It seeks to understand, assess and explain the mechanisms of markets and national economies.
A major in economics builds problem-solving skills that are applicable to careers in business and government. It will teach you how to analyse and interpret data and will equip you with the tools to find smart solutions for the numerous problems confronting governments and the commercial world. Graduates with a major in Economics have varied employment opportunities in both the public and private sector. Three broad areas of study available within the main discipline are:
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Econometrics
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this major, students should be able to:
- Describe and explain the fundamental principles underpinning the functioning of markets
- Explain and critically analyse factors that determine economic decision making in households, firms and government
- Evaluate the impact of economic policy
- Identify issues and apply knowledge of theory to analyse real and hypothetical economic problems and suggest potential solutions
- Employ a range of tools of analysis pertinent to the evaluation of evidence in economic policy and behaviour, including statistical reasoning, and the use of econometric and/or mathematical computer software
- Understand the core methodological tools for working with economic data and be able to interpret and apply basic statistical and econometric methods and understand empirical papers of an appropriate level
- Interpret and critically evaluate articles in the economics literature
- Demonstrate appropriate communication skills for a professional environment.
Last updated: 6 May 2025