Students

ECON2044 – Labour Markets, Artificial Intelligence and Inequality

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
David Orsmond
david.orsmond@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(ECON1020 or ECON111) and (ECON1021 or ECON110)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides a deep dive into the various factors that affect how firms and economies create different types of jobs and remunerate workers. It addresses current issues such as why wages levels vary between jobs, training and the returns to skills, discrimination and income inequality using examples drawn from Australia and abroad. The unit also covers how artificial intelligence and other technologies have and will likely affect labour market wage and employment outcomes over time. Students have the opportunity to debate approaches to these issues within a highly interactive setting.

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 within a team on labour market, technology and inequality issues.
  • ULO4: Identify key concepts and causes of inequality and the consequent trade-offs in devising policy interventions.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Final exam 40% No Exam Period
Weekly tutorial activities 20% No Weekly
Team-Based Learning Assessment 20% No Weeks 4-5 and Weeks 10-11 (pre-reading weeks 3 and 9)
Essay 20% No Week 9

Final exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Exam Period
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 within a team on labour market, technology and inequality issues.
  • Identify key concepts and causes of inequality and the consequent trade-offs in devising policy interventions.

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 within a team on labour market, technology and inequality issues.
  • Identify key concepts and causes of inequality and the consequent trade-offs in devising policy interventions.

Team-Based Learning Assessment

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weeks 4-5 and Weeks 10-11 (pre-reading weeks 3 and 9)
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 within a team on labour market, technology and inequality issues.
  • Identify key concepts and causes of inequality and the consequent trade-offs in devising policy interventions.

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 9
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 within a team on labour market, technology and inequality issues.
  • Identify key concepts and causes of inequality and the consequent trade-offs in devising policy interventions.

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 fully in-person (face-to-face) at the North Ryde campus; the unit is not available in an online delivery mode. Students attend for three hours (Mondays, 9am-noon); the time is divided between a one-hour face-to-face tutorial followed immediately by a two-hour face-to-face lecture, both of which are highly interactive. There is no tutorial or lecture on Monday 1 April (Easter Monday).

The textbook is Kaufman and Hotchkiss (2006, 7th Ed), The Economics of Labor Markets, and is 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 and is on campus.

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

Unit Schedule

Refer to the information on the relevant iLearn page. 

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 connect.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 the Service Connect Portal, 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 2024.02 of the Handbook