Positive Political Economics

Subject ECON40009 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Lectures and tutorials totalling three hours per week (Semester 2)
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: ECON30009 Macroeconomics or equivalent; ECON30010 Microeconomics or equivalent.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

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Subject Overview: This subject provides an overview of the field of political economics. Political economics extends the scope of standard economic analysis by assuming that individuals follow their own agenda and maximize their own utility not only in the economic, but also in the political sphere. The following broad areas will be covered: Determinants of institutional quality and its effects on economic performance; models of political competition and (re-)elections; various (so-called) political and institutional failures, including corruption and rent seeking, and delays in welfare-increasing reforms.
Objectives: Information not available.
Assessment: A 2-hour end-of-semester examination (70%) and a class assignment totalling approximately 3000 words (30%).
Prescribed Texts: Journal articles and the textbook Persson, T., and G. Tabellini, 2000, Political Economics: Explaining Economic Policy, MIT Press
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • High level of development: written communication; problem solving; interpretation and analysis; critical thinking ; receptiveness to alternative ideas.
  • Moderate level of development: oral communication; statistical reasoning; synthesis of data and other information; evaluation of data and other information; use of computer software; accessing data and other information from a range of sources.
  • Some level of development: collaborative learning; team work.

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