Students

ECON3098 – The Asian Economies

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

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Alexander Blair
Contact via Email
Office located at 4 EAR 450 (Level 4)
Consultation hours TBA
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 focuses on the three major economies of the Asian region: Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the People’s Republic of China. It covers their distinctive contemporary business and economic institutions, such as sogo shosha and chaebol, and those of the recent past including zaibatsu and Chinese TVEs. The unit goes beyond description, to provide theory to explain why such institutions exist, often uniquely to the region. It approaches the major economies of East Asia as an exercise in applied economic theory, and as an introduction to basic models in development economics. It further draws on economic models to explain how these economies achieved rapid ‘Miracle’ economic growth, and raised per capita incomes from the lowest to amongst the highest in the world. Some of the economic theory will be familiar to students, some of it encountered for the first time, but in either case it will be taught from first principles with no assumed 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 and explain the development strategy and growth path that created the economic institutions of Japan, the East Asian Tigers and other Asian economies.
  • ULO2: Critically discuss the reasoning behind the key theories underlying development economics in an East Asian context.
  • ULO3: Apply macroeconomic and microeconomic theory to analyse the past behaviour and future growth prospects of the Asian economies.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Introductory Test 10% No Week 4
Mid-session Test (Online) 30% No Week 8
Modelling Exercise 20% No Week 12
Online Final Examination 40% No As per University Examination Timetable

Online Introductory Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 10%

A short online open book Test will be held during tutorial time, comprising short answer questions testing essential mathematical and other skills, and administered via iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply macroeconomic and microeconomic theory to analyse the past behaviour and future growth prospects of the Asian economies.

Mid-session Test (Online)

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 30%

An open book online test will be conducted mid-session. It will comprise short answer questions and cover material presented in the first half of Session.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and explain the development strategy and growth path that created the economic institutions of Japan, the East Asian Tigers and other Asian economies.
  • Critically discuss the reasoning behind the key theories underlying development economics in an East Asian context.

Modelling Exercise

Assessment Type 1: Modelling task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 20%

 

This exercise will involve building a basic model of a developing economy, based on the templates provided in lectures.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply macroeconomic and microeconomic theory to analyse the past behaviour and future growth prospects of the Asian economies.

Online Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: As per University Examination Timetable
Weighting: 40%

A two-hour open book exam will be held during the University Examination Period, comprising short answer and long answer questions, and administered via iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and explain the development strategy and growth path that created the economic institutions of Japan, the East Asian Tigers and other Asian economies.
  • Critically discuss the reasoning behind the key theories underlying development economics in an East Asian context.
  • Apply macroeconomic and microeconomic theory to analyse the past behaviour and future growth prospects of the Asian economies.

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

There is no prescribed textbook for the Unit.  All materials will be available via iLearn.  Lectures will be delivered online.

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:

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.