Industrial Organisation

Subject ECON90005 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2016.
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:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50

or

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Corequisites:

None
Recommended Background Knowledge:

None
Non Allowed Subjects:

ECON40007 Industrial Organisation

Subject
Core Participation Requirements:

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

Contact

Melbourne Business School @ Berkeley Street
Level 4, 198 Berkeley Street
Telephone: +61 3 8344 1670
Email: mbs-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://mbs.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.
Learning Outcomes:

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.

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