Students

ECON2044 – Labour Markets and Inequality

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
David Orsmond
david.orsmond@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
50cp at 1000 level or above including ECON111 or ECON1020
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This is a unit in the economics of the labour market. It deals with some of the most fascinating, important and vexed questions in economics. It aims to provide a thorough understanding of what determines the ability of firms and economies to create jobs and remunerate their workers. The unit will address issues of wage stagnation, wage inequality and unemployment, as well as issues such as training, wage growth and returns to skills. By answering these questions, you will be equipped to understand the dynamics of inequality both in Australia as well as globally. Importantly, policy can do a great deal to ameliorate workers’ opportunities in the labour markets and to satisfy business needs for workers, skills and expertise. The unit will focus on the most important policies and their effectiveness in boosting labour market opportunities and reducing inequality.

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: Demonstrate a solid understanding of labour market theory.
  • ULO2: Recognise how labour market theory aids decision-making by individuals, business and government.
  • ULO3: Communicate effectively on labour market and inequality issues.
  • ULO4: Identify key concepts and causes of inequality.

General Assessment Information

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 11.55 pm. 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
Essay 20% No Week 8
Final exam 40% No Exam week (on campus)
Weekly tutorial activities 20% No Weekly
Team-Based Learning Assessment 20% No Weeks 4-6, and weeks 10-12

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%

The 1,500 word essay is designed to develop your understanding of the different ways in which labour market policies and practices affect the economy.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of labour market theory.
  • Recognise how labour market theory aids decision-making by individuals, business and government.
  • Communicate effectively on labour market and inequality issues.
  • Identify key concepts and causes of inequality.

Final exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Exam week (on campus)
Weighting: 40%

 

A two-hour exam will be held during the end of session formal exam period, and will consist of essay style questions.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of labour market theory.
  • Recognise how labour market theory aids decision-making by individuals, business and government.
  • Communicate effectively on labour market and inequality issues.
  • Identify key concepts and causes of inequality.

Weekly tutorial activities

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%

Tutorial and Discussion Forum questions will typically be based on previous lectures and associated readings and will attempt to reinforce that material as well as set students up to better understand the material on which it will build in subsequent lectures.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of labour market theory.
  • Recognise how labour market theory aids decision-making by individuals, business and government.
  • Communicate effectively on labour market and inequality issues.
  • Identify key concepts and causes of inequality.

Team-Based Learning Assessment

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weeks 4-6, and weeks 10-12
Weighting: 20%

The TBL assessment includes an individual quiz-based (10% assessment weightage) and a group project component (10% assessment weightage). There are two TBL modules in this unit, each spanning a period of two weeks during which students take quizzes before and after a group discussion and complete a group project.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of labour market theory.
  • Recognise how labour market theory aids decision-making by individuals, business and government.
  • Communicate effectively on labour market and inequality issues.
  • Identify key concepts and causes of inequality.

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

The delivery of this unit is full in-person (face-to-face) at the North Ryde campus; it is not available in an online delivery mode. Students attend a one-hour face-to-face tutorial followed immediately by a two-hour face-to-face lecture, both of which are highly interactive.

The textbook is Kaufman and Hotchkiss (2006, 7th Ed), The Economics of Labor Markets, and is fully available to students through Leganto (accessed via the iLearn site for this unit). There is no need to purchase a textbook.

Note that the exam for this unit will be on-campus during the Exam Week.

Unit Schedule

The face-to-face tutorials and lectures run on Tuesday 10am to 1pm continuously. There is no lecture or tutorial on Anzac Day (Tuesday 25 April).

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 2023.04 of the Handbook