Students
ECON3000 – Public Economics
2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Pundarik Mukhopadhaya
Lecturer
David Throsby
Lecturer
Sean Turnell
Xiaoman Selma Huang
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including (ECON110 or ECON111 or ECON1020) and 20cp at 2000 level
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit discusses the major traditional areas of taxation and public expenditure as well as emerging issues relating to public economics in a globalised world economy. Topics may include: taxation; public expenditure; public sector pricing; benefit-cost analysis; fiscal federalism; along with entirely new areas of research and inquiry that have recently emerged. |
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: Examine critical issues and processes evolving in the economics of the public sector.
- ULO2: Review changing local and global government intervention issues, structures and policies.
- ULO3: Explain the working of the public policy issues in the wider democratic process.
- ULO4: Analyse the requirements and roles of the public sector in a decentralised market economy.
- ULO5: Evaluate the necessity and effects of government fiscal decisions.
General Assessment Information
No extensions on within-session assessment tasks or the final examination will be granted. Students who have not submitted the task prior to the due date will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which a formal application for Special Consideration is made (via http://www.ask.mq.edu.au) and approved.
During Quiz weeks (Weeks 4, 8, and 12), Quizzes will be released on iLearn at 9 am on Monday and will close at 5 pm the following Sunday.
The Essay will be available on iLearn in week 3 and will be due by 3 pm on Friday of Week 8.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online assessments | 30% | No | Weeks 4, 8 and 12 |
| Essay | 20% | No | Week 8 |
| Final exam | 50% | No | Exam period |
Online assessments
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weeks 4, 8 and 12
Weighting: 30%
There will be three online quizzes, each worth 10%.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain the working of the public policy issues in the wider democratic process.
- Analyse the requirements and roles of the public sector in a decentralised market economy.
- Evaluate the necessity and effects of government fiscal decisions.
Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%
The 2,500 word essay is designed to develop your understanding of the different ways in which government policies affect the economy.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Examine critical issues and processes evolving in the economics of the public sector.
- Review changing local and global government intervention issues, structures and policies.
Final exam
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 50%
A two-hour exam will be held during the end of session formal exam period.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Examine critical issues and processes evolving in the economics of the public sector.
- Review changing local and global government intervention issues, structures and policies.
- Explain the working of the public policy issues in the wider democratic process.
- Analyse the requirements and roles of the public sector in a decentralised market economy.
- Evaluate the necessity and effects of government fiscal decisions.
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
Delivery and Resources
Prescribed textbook
Students are recommended to purchase the following textbook:
• Gruber, J, (2020) Public Finance and Public Policy (6th edition IE), Macmillan Higher Education.
The text is available for purchase from Booktopia/Co-op by clicking here.
Additional weekly readings and resources will be made available on the unit iLearn site during the session.
Technology used and required
The unit uses the learning management system (iLearn) that can be accessed via iLearn.mq.edu.au.
The iLearn site is also used to post important notices. You should check this regularly. The iLearn web page has the facility to allow peer to peer discussion and also allows students to put questions the teaching staff.
Zoom will be used for all remote consultation sessions. More information about accessing your MQ student Zoom account can be found here
Learning and teaching activities
Students are expected to attend the weekly three-hour class. These classes will consist of a mix of lecture material, tutorial questions and class discussions. It is suggested that lecture slides and/or any readings be read in advance.
Unit Schedule
| Lecture Topic | Assessment Task Due | |
| Week 1 | The tools of public economics (guest presentation) | |
| Week 2 | Preliminary theoretical concepts and externalities | |
| Week 3 | Public goods and political economy | |
| Week 4 | Redistribution, poverty and equity implication of tax incidence | Online quiz 1 (10%) |
| Week 5 | Guest presentation | |
| Week 6 | Public policy and education | |
| Week 7 | Climate change and ecologically sustainable development | |
| Week 8 | The creative economy | Online quiz 2 (10%) / Assignment (20%) |
| Week 9 | Cultural heritage and the tourism industry | |
| Week 10 | Public finance I | |
| Week 11 | Public finance II | |
| Week 12 | Policy making and implementation in the developing world | Online quiz 3 (10%) |
| Week 13 | Revision | |
| Exam Period | Final exam (50%) |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/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
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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.