Students

ECON3020 – Asian Business Environment

2024 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lisa Magnani
lisa.magnani@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
Room 427, Level 4, 4ER Building, 4 Eastern Road Macquarie University
By zoom, W1-W13, on Friday 2-3pm
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
120cp at 1000 level or above including (ECON1020 or MQBS1030)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides an introduction to the patterns of business in East and South-East Asia, and to the key economic institutions found therein. Unit material covers the entire region, but focuses on the People's Republic of China, India, Vietnam and Japan as exemplars of the economic characteristics and development issues in the region. Topics centre around key global challenges, including those generated by the ecological impact of economic activities, and the social and economic effects of demographic transitions and technological change. This focus gives opportunities to investigate the specific ways these economies address these challenges while creating foundations for new forms of economic and business organizations and for new policy approaches. The unit requires no prior economics knowledge.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Analyse the characteristics and business institutions of the economies of selected Asian economies.
  • ULO2: Critically examine and interpret research in current Asian business and economic environments.
  • ULO3: Express ideas clearly and succinctly, individually and as a group, using appropriate business practice, both verbally and in written format.

General Assessment Information

Please be reminded that final Exams for ECON are now ON CAMPUS for virtually all units that use them; required on campus attendance for the final exam includes students enrolled in an online delivery format. 

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments)

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.  For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Group Work 40% No Presentations in W3-W12, submission in W13
Midterm examination 30% No W8, Monday April 8
Final Examination 30% No University Exam Period

Group Work

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Presentations in W3-W12, submission in W13
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will work in teams to submit group work on an original public action campaign (PAC) related to one of the five global challenges discussed in this unit. Before submission groups will have an opportunity to receive feedback on their PAC. This assessment task is worth 40% of the overall assessment, split between group work (20%) and stated individual contributions on a stated specific aspect of the PAC (goal, target community, conflicts and synergies across stakeholders, target action) (worth an additional 20%).

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the characteristics and business institutions of the economies of selected Asian economies.
  • Critically examine and interpret research in current Asian business and economic environments.
  • Express ideas clearly and succinctly, individually and as a group, using appropriate business practice, both verbally and in written format.

Midterm examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: W8, Monday April 8
Weighting: 30%

A 90 minutes mid-term test comprising short and longer essay questions on the unit's topics and country-specific challenges.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the characteristics and business institutions of the economies of selected Asian economies.
  • Critically examine and interpret research in current Asian business and economic environments.
  • Express ideas clearly and succinctly, individually and as a group, using appropriate business practice, both verbally and in written format.

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: University Exam Period
Weighting: 30%

A two-hour exam will be held during the end of session formal exam period, and will consist of short essay questions through which they demonstrate their ability to apply their understanding of global challenges to country-specific analyses of policy challenges and business opportunities.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the characteristics and business institutions of the economies of selected Asian economies.
  • Critically examine and interpret research in current Asian business and economic environments.
  • Express ideas clearly and succinctly, individually and as a group, using appropriate business practice, both verbally and in written format.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This unit involves a two-hour weekly lecture and a one-hour weekly tutorial. Both meetings are compulsory. Weekly lectures are on Monday, 3-5pm, in 14SCO T2 Tiered Lecture Theatre.

Copies of lecture notes will be posted in iLearn with the list of weekly readings and tutorial questions. 

Unit Schedule

ECON3020 is organised in three parts.

Part I, from week 1 to week 6 included, provides some theoretical insights and broad historical/institutional elements to critically discuss the Asian contemporary capitalist development of the last few decades. The topics are:

W1: Global challenges and crises

W2: Demographic changes

W3: The ecological global challenge

W4: The social global challenge

W5: The global mode of production challenge

W6: The technological change and automation global challenge

 

Please note: Week 7 of the 2024 academic year is a PUBLIC HOLIDAY (EASTER MONDAY, ON APRIL 1ST). The lecture is cancelled in W7.

IMPORTANT: Week 8 (Monday April 8): midterm exam. The midterm exam will involve a 90 minutes test comprising short and longer essay questions on the unit's topics (W1-W6 included).

Recess from April 15 to April 29

 

Part II, starting from April 29, from week 9 to week 12, is about how these global challenges discussed in W1-W6 have emerged and developed in the specific contexts of India, China, Japan and Vietnam.

With Part III in week 13 we will return to some general reflections on the 21st century global challenges and what policy approaches may be best to tackle these issues.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2024.06 of the Handbook