Students
ECON3081 – Current Issues in Economics
2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online 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
Ben Wang
4ER 443
TBA
Lecturer
Edwin Franks
TBA
TBA
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including ((ECON203 or ECON2003) and (ECON204 or ECON2004))
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
10cp from ECON units at 3000 level
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
Students in this unit have the opportunity to complete a major research project that deals with current issues in economics, under the supervision of an academic research adviser. Real world research problems are provided by an industry partner. The unit provides an opportunity for students to gain a sound understanding of how to conduct a fully-fledged research project. Students will contextualise their graduate capabilities in their final group research report. |
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: Create economic knowledge-based solutions that can be applied to problems faced by key economic decision makers.
- ULO2: Critically analyse economic issues and make policy recommendations based on economic theories and sound statistical or econometric evidence.
- ULO3: Effectively communicate solutions to economic problems to specialist and non-specialist audiences, in written reports and oral presentations.
- ULO4: Work in a team to develop a major group economic research report for an Industry Partner.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Research Project | 60% | No | Week 13, 1pm 4 May |
| Research Project Pitch | 10% | No | Week 5, 1pm 26 March |
| Essay | 30% | No | Week 9, 1pm 7 May |
Team Research Project
Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 55 hours
Due: Week 13, 1pm 4 May
Weighting: 60%
The team research project consists of three parts. 1. Presentation 1 - Week 8 (10%). During the week 8 lecture, each team will be asked to present a summary of the progress made on their research project to the class.This presentation is designed to provide opportunities for constructive feedback from peers and academic staff that can be used to inform the remainder of their research projects. 2. Presentation 2 and Industry Partner Presentations - Weeks 11, 12 and 13 (10%). During lectures in weeks 11,12 and 13, each team will be asked to present their final research findings to the industry partner along with their peers, academic staff and a selection of faculty PACE/program coordinators. 3.Team research paper - Week 13 (40%). Each team is required to submit to Turnitin a 5,000-word economic research paper based on the topics presented by the industry partner at the beginning of the session.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Create economic knowledge-based solutions that can be applied to problems faced by key economic decision makers.
- Effectively communicate solutions to economic problems to specialist and non-specialist audiences, in written reports and oral presentations.
- Work in a team to develop a major group economic research report for an Industry Partner.
Research Project Pitch
Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 5, 1pm 26 March
Weighting: 10%
At the beginning of the session, students will be placed into teams of 5. Each team is then expected to complete a research project pitch, which aims to help students develop a clear sense of direction early on in their project and to support teams in organising, planning and monitoring their progress as they move forward during the session. Each research project pitch will contain information pertaining to both the individual research goals of the student and the overall research goals of each team. Completed research project pitches must be uploaded to Turnitin by week 5.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Create economic knowledge-based solutions that can be applied to problems faced by key economic decision makers.
- Critically analyse economic issues and make policy recommendations based on economic theories and sound statistical or econometric evidence.
- Effectively communicate solutions to economic problems to specialist and non-specialist audiences, in written reports and oral presentations.
- Work in a team to develop a major group economic research report for an Industry Partner.
Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 9, 1pm 7 May
Weighting: 30%
Students will be given a set of essay questions, focusing on issues of economic sustainability in the context of the session's industry partner. The essay will be due in week 9.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Create economic knowledge-based solutions that can be applied to problems faced by key economic decision makers.
- Critically analyse economic issues and make policy recommendations based on economic theories and sound statistical or econometric evidence.
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
Learning and teaching strategy The learning and teaching strategy in ECON3081 recognises that students learn from contact with academic staff and their peers. It also recognises that students must take responsibility for their learning process, which includes independent study and reflection.
Lectures and consultation seminars The timetabled three-hour lectures for ECON3081 are in a mixed format, comprising of a variety of formal lectures, industry partner presentations, student presentations and consultation seminars. As ECON3081 is a participation and capstone unit, you are strongly encouraged to get engaged each and every lecture in order to gain vital hands-on experience and exposure to the ideas of peers, academic staff and the industry partner.
Required and Recommended Texts There is no set textbook for the course. Recommended reading material will be posted to the unit iLearn during the session.
Unit Schedule
| Week | Lecture Topic | Assessment Task Due |
| 1, 26 Feb | Introduction to ECON3081 | |
| 2, 5 Mar | Writing an Economics Research Paper I: Embarking on a research project | |
| 3, 12 Mar | Industry Partner Lecture | |
| 4, 19 Mar | Writing an Economics Research Paper II: Econometrics | |
| 5, 26 Mar | Writing an Economics Research Paper III: Related literature | Research Project Pitch |
| 6, 2 Apr | Easter Friday, no class | |
| 7, 23 Apr | Project Consultation Seminar | |
| 8, 30 Apr | Research Presentation I | Presentation I |
| 9, 7 May | Project Consultation Seminar | Essay |
| 10,14 May | Project Consultation Seminar | |
| 11, 21 May | Research Presentation | Presentation II |
| 12, 28 May | Research Presentation to Industry Partner | Presentation |
| 13, 4 Jun |
Project Consultation Seminar and Team Research Report |
Team Research Paper |
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:
- 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
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
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.
Unit information based on version 2021.05 of the Handbook