Economics For Public Policy

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

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.

None

None

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

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://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