Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor Jordi McKenzie jordi.mckenzie@mq.edu.au Contact via Email Room 408 4 Eastern Road (4ER) By appointment
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites Admission to MRes
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This unit refers to the subdisciplines of economics that employ theoretical and/or empirical techniques to understand inherently microeconomic phenomena. The unit examines how applied researchers use their tools to investigate a variety of contemporary economic questions. It focuses primarily on: the development and understanding of the research question(s); the relationship between economic theory and the design of empirical frameworks, and the interpretation of results and the implications for theory and/or policy outcomes, as opposed to technical aspects of the econometric methods involved. The unit is nonetheless suitable for students with limited (or no) prior econometric 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: Evaluate how a knowledge and understanding of theories and applications of microeconomics are utilised by academic scholars.
ULO2: Use critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to apply microeconomic theory to real-life economic problems.
ULO3: Apply analytical skills in the synthesis and interpretation of applied research in microeconomics.
ULO4: Communicate a knowledge of microeconomic theories and their applications to both academic and non-academic audiences to a professional standard of written work and presentation skills.

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
Class participation	10%	No	Continuous
Final assessment	15%	No	Week 13
Class tests	45%	No	Weeks 4, 8, 12
Presentation	10%	No	Week 13
Final Report	20%	No	Week 13

Class participation

Assessment Type ¹: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours
Due: Continuous
Weighting: 10%

Each week during the live lecture, the class will be divided into groups to discuss questions dealing with key aspects of the paper(s) presented that week. This is an extremely important part of the learning process in this unit. Students will have opportunities to demonstrate participation in both small and large group discussions. To be eligible to receive full marks for class participation, students must demonstrate active participation in at least seven of the nine weeks where live lectures are held. Students will also be expected to participate in the assessment of other students' presentations in week 13.