Managerial Economics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours per semester

Entry into the Master of Management suite of programs or the Master of Energy Systems or the Master of Information Systems.

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 subject provides an introduction to the fundamentals of microeconomics and strategy, and applies this knowledge to a number of business and management issues. Topics to be covered include: the working of competitive markets and the determination of market prices and quantities; the organisation of the firm and various measures of the costs of production; business strategies and market outcomes in different market environments; and public policy towards business in the presence of “external costs” in production.

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

• Explain the role of supply and demand in determining price in a competitive market;
• Apply supply and demand analysis to economic and business strategy issues;
• Explain how economies of scale, scope and learning determine the boundaries of a firm and market structure;
• Identify the main characteristics of different market types, such as perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly. Explain and analyse the nature of competitive behaviour in these markets and the implications for business strategy;
• Apply economic models of business behaviour and markets to describe the main features of actual markets and to explain outcomes in actual markets, including prices and output levels, and business performance and profitability;
• Identify strategic situations in business activity and be able to analyse and predict the outcomes of these strategic situations using game theory;
• Analyse and explain the implications of various measures of cost; and
• Identify the concepts of “external” costs and benefits that may be generated by consumption and production. Explain the nature of public policy in the form of taxation, quantitative restrictions and tradeable emissions permits that may be imposed on firms to correct for external costs in production where environmental pollution may have resulted.

• 2-hour end-of-semester examination (70%);
• 2000 word assignment due in week 10 (20%)and
• A multiple choice test conducted in week 6 (10%).

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:

• 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;
• Summary and interpretation of information;
• Problem solving skills;
• Written communication; and
• Oral communication.