Industrial Organisation

Subject ECON90005 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Seminars, or lectures and tutorials totalling three hours per week
Total Time Commitment: Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours per semester
Prerequisites: ECON90002 Microeconomics
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: ECON40007 Industrial Organisation
Subject
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.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Graduate School of Business and Economics
Level 4, 198 Berkeley Street
Telephone: +61 3 8344 1670
Online Enquiries
Web: www.gsbe.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview: This subject provides an overview of selected topics in industrial organisation. Industrial organisation deals with the structure, management and performance of firms and markets. The main emphasis will be on theoretical principles although there will be some discussion of empirical approaches. Topics to be covered include the theory of the firm, monopoly and durable goods, price discrimination, oligopoly pricing, product choice, dynamic price competition and tacit collusion, search and market intermediaries, signalling and limit pricing, product differentiation, advertising, entry and exit, research and development, and vertical relationships between firms.
Objectives: On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
  • Explain how firms acquire market power and how they use this market power once acquired;
  • Analyse how competing firms interact strategically;
  • Evaluate the welfare effects of various aspects of firm behaviour;
  • Evaluate the welfare effects of various types of public policy, such as antitrust policy, patent policy, and regulatory policy;
  • Describe the current state of knowledge in the field of industrial organisation.
Assessment:
  • Class assignments totalling not more than 4000 words (40%)
  • One 3-hour examination (60%)
Prescribed Texts: You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:

  • Evaluation of ideas, views and evidence
  • Synthesis of ideas, views and evidence
  • Strategic thinking
  • Critical thinking
  • Application of theory to economic policy and business decision making
  • Accessing economic and other information
  • Summarising and interpretation of information
  • Problem solving skills
  • Written communication
Notes: Students may not gain credit for both ECON90005 Industrial Organisation and ECON40007 Industrial Organisation.
Related Course(s): Master of Commerce - Economics

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