Economics For Public Policy

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours per semester

Enrolment in the Postgraduate Certificate in Arts (Public Policy and Management), Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Public Policy and Management), Master of Public Policy and Management or the Master of Social Policy.

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This subject is not available to students enrolled in MC-ECO Master of Economics

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/

The course introduces students to the economic principles and framework used by economists to consider issues of public policy. The importance of rigorous analysis in problem solving is emphasised. The policy areas likely to be covered will be taken from public finance, industry policy, competition policy, micro-economic reform, taxation and income distribution, as well as health, education and infrastructure provision. The emphasis is on current issues and so the actual policies covered may vary in response to current events.

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Apply economic concepts in a rigorous way in a public policy context, but in a way that is useful to non-economists;
• Analyse policy-related information to identify relevant matters for economic analysis;
• Combine different economic theories in a way that is meaningful and useful in developing and assessing public policies over a range of subject areas;
• Evaluate the relevance of alternative economic theories for analysing different policy issues.

• Two 2000-word written assignments (30% each) due in weeks 6 and 10 (60%); and
• 2-hour end of semester examination (40%).

You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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

• Written communication
• Oral communication
• Problem solving
• Application of theory to practice
• Interpretation and analysis
• Critical thinking
• Receptiveness to alternative ideas