ECON 7032 - Public Economics PG
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ECON 7032 Course Public Economics PG Coordinating Unit Economics Term Semester 2 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible ECON 3508 Assumed Knowledge ECON 7241 Assessment Typically a mid-Semester test and final exam Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Duygu Yengin
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1 Use the basic tools, concepts and models to solve problems in key topics in Public Economics; 2 analyse policy challenges facing governments around the world and learn to find solutions to these challenges, taking into account obstacles to implementation; 3 apply economic perspectives on activities of the government sector to become well-informed, engaged participants - citizens, voters, politicians and/or civil servants - in society. University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,2 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1,2,3 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
Intermediate Public Economics, second edition, by Jean Hindriks and Gareth D. Myles (MIT Press, 2013)
ISBN 978-0-262-01869-2Recommended Resources
A recommended textbook is Economics of the Public Sector by J Stiglitz (Norton)
It is strongly recommended that students read at least one prominent newspaper/magazine (e.g. The Australian or the Australian Financial Review or the Economist or the New York Times) to familiarise themselves with the important policy debates of the day. Additional readings will be provided as the course progresses.
Online Learning
The course makes extensive use of MyUni to post notes, assignments and for communication with the students. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Tutorials are devoted to enhancing students' understanding of the concepts covered in the lectures. Students are expected to actively participate in the tutorials, which includes doing the requisite reading, answering questions and participating in the conversations.
Students (in groups of 3) are required to prepare a 10 minute presentation (with powerpoint) on one of the recommended readings, and present this to the lecturer . More details are given in myuni.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
Typical weekly workload for the course is 12 hours a week, distributed as follows: 2 hours for the lecture, 1 hour for the tutorial, 3 hours for requisite revision/required readings, 3 hours for homework problems, 2 hours for the essay, and 1 hour for the additional readings.Learning Activities Summary
The lecture schedule is as follows:Week 1 Introduction to Public Economics and Overview, HM Ch1 Week 2 Equilibrium and Efficiency HM Ch2 Week 3 Welfare and Public Goods HM Ch 6, Ch 13 Week 4 Why Do Governments Intervene? HM Ch5 Week 5 How Do Governments Intervene? Cost Benefit Analysis HM ch25 Week 6 MIDTERM Week 7 Cost-Benefit Analysis HM 25 Week 8 Inequality and Poverty HM Ch14 Week 9 Collective Decision Making HM Ch 6, 11 Week 10 Introduction to Tax and Tax Incidence Week 11 Commodity Taxation HM ch15 Week 12 Income Taxation HM ch 16 -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Due Weighting Learning Outcome Group Presentations TBA in myuni
10% 2,3 Weekly quizzes from week 2
20% 2,3 Midterm Exam Week 6
30% 1 Final Exam Exam period 40% 1,2,3 Total 100% Assessment Detail
The midterm exam is a 1 hour long, closed-book exam to be held in class in Week 6. It will cover material taught in the first 5 lectures.
The final exam will be held during the Uni exam period. It will be a 3 hour long, closed book exam.
Midterm is redeemable by the Final exam.Submission
Since the midterm exam can be redeemed by the final exam, if you do not take the midterm for any reason, your final exam score will automatically replace the midterm.
Extensions and alternative assessment conditions for students with disabilities or those with elite athlete status: It is your responsibility to contact lecturer, in the first 2 weeks of the semester and provide them with a copy of your Access Plan or communicate to the course coordinator your elite athlete status. Please be mindful that you do not have an automatic right to extensions for assesments and that you must discuss options with your course coordinators.
Medical reports from only Australian registered medical practitioners are accepted. See for the list of acceptable medical practitioners: www.ahpra.gov.au
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
Additional Assessment
If a student receives 45-49 for their final mark for the course they will automatically be granted an additional assessment. This will most likely be in the form of a new exam (Additional Assessment) and will have the same weight as the original exam unless an alternative requirement (for example a hurdle requirement) is stated in this semester’s Course Outline. If, after replacing the original exam mark with the new exam mark, it is calculated that the student has passed the course, they will receive 50 Pass as their final result for the course (no higher) but if the calculation totals less than 50, their grade will be Fail and the higher of the original mark or the mark following the Additional Assessment will be recorded as the final result. -
Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.
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