Students

ECON3000 – Public Economics

2024 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-In person assessment, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Lecturer
Pundarik Mukhopadhaya
pundarik.mukhopadhaya@mq.edu.au
Lecturer
Peter Abelson
peter.abelson@mq.edu.au
Guest Lecturer
David Orsmond
david.orsmond@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ECON2003 or ECON203
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit outlines the key roles that the government sector plays in a market-based economy. The unit discusses traditional public financial issues as well as emerging issues relating to public economics within a globalised economy. Students learn how public sector responsibilities interact with activities undertaken by the private sector and how they can reflect preferences of the society in which they operate. Topics may include taxation, public expenditure, public sector pricing, cost-benefit analysis and fiscal federalism. The unit also covers areas of research into a national’s cultural assets, indigenous policy and political economy considerations.

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 in the economics of the public sector.
  • ULO2: Review changing national and global government intervention issues, structures and policies.
  • ULO3: Explain the working of public policy issues in the wider democratic process.
  • ULO4: Analyse the roles of the public sector in a decentralised market economy.
  • ULO5: Evaluate the necessity and effects of government fiscal decisions and the consequent trade-offs in how they affect different groups in society.

General Assessment Information

Late submissions of assessments

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.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assessments 30% No Week 6 and Week 11 (tentative)
Essay 20% No Week 8, Friday
Final exam 50% No University time table

Assessments

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 6 and Week 11 (tentative)
Weighting: 30%

 

There will be two or three quizzes, with equal weighting.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the working of public policy issues in the wider democratic process.
  • Analyse the roles of the public sector in a decentralised market economy.
  • Evaluate the necessity and effects of government fiscal decisions and the consequent trade-offs in how they affect different groups in society.

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 8, Friday
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 in the economics of the public sector.
  • Review changing national and global government intervention issues, structures and policies.
  • Explain the working of public policy issues in the wider democratic process.

Final exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: University time table
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 in the economics of the public sector.
  • Review changing national and global government intervention issues, structures and policies.
  • Explain the working of public policy issues in the wider democratic process.
  • Analyse the roles of the public sector in a decentralised market economy.
  • Evaluate the necessity and effects of government fiscal decisions and the consequent trade-offs in how they affect different groups in society.

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, (2023) Public Finance and Public Policy (7th edition IE), Macmillan Higher Education.
  • Abelson, P. (2018) Public Economics: Principles and Practice (4th edition), Open access: https://appliedeconomics.com.au/

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 to 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

All internal students are expected to attend the weekly two-hour f2f sessions. The recordings of these sessions will be available on the iLearn unit page.  Every week, an additional pre-recorded lecture will be made available.  The Final Exam and the Quizzes will be conducted in person (Special consideration may apply for external students).  The classes will consist of a mix of lecture material, tutorial questions and discussions (details to be provided on iLearn at the start of the Session). All recorded lectures and discussions will be available on iLearn-ECHO360.  It is suggested that weekly lecture material be reviewed in advance of the lecture sessions.

Unit Schedule

Available on the iLearn unit 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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
13/07/2024 Roles of the lecturers and unit convenor are specified

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook