ECON 7237 - Industrial Organisation PG

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2017

This course in applied microeconomics is concerned with the behaviour and performance of firms in markets, with a focus on strategic interactions. It goes beyond the perfectly competitive model by considering the nature of firms? market power and how it affects their behaviour and subsequently consumers? welfare and policy-makers. Topics covered may include theories of monopoly, price discrimination, oligopoly, auctions, vertical and horizontal integration, economies of scale and scope, advertising, and regulation. Case studies related to these topics will be presented and discussed in the weekly seminars.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ECON 7237
    Course Industrial Organisation PG
    Coordinating Unit Economics
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge ECON 7011
    Assessment Typically a project, assignments, mid-semester test & final exam
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Paul Pezanis-Christou

    Associate-Professor Paul Pezanis-Christou

    Office location: Nexus 10, Level 4, Room 4.09
    Telephone: 8313 4928
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1 Identify and apply strategic concepts to analyse firms' and market behaviour
    2 Identify various strategic environments and discuss their welfare implications
    3 Analyse basic antitrust and regulatory policy issues 
    4 Execute a research-based project of their own conception in collaboration with other team members.
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Industrial Organisation: A Strategic Approach, by J. Church and R. Ware, McGraw-Hill, 2000. Freely available at: http://homepages.ucalgary.ca/~jrchurch/page4/page5/page5.html
    Recommended Resources
    Introduction to Industrial Organization, L. Cabral, MIT Press, 2000.

    Modern Industrial Organization, by D. Carlton and J. Perloff, Pearson Addison Wesley, 4th Edition, 2005.

    Industrial Organisation: A Strategic Approach, by J. Church and R. Ware, McGraw-Hill, 2000. Freely available at: http://homepages.ucalgary.ca/~jrchurch/page4/page5/page5.html
    Online Learning
    Lecture notes, recordings and assignments will be posted on MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures

    Lectures are held once a week starting in the first week. You are expected to have read the relevant material. The lecture is designed to summarise the topic, explain concepts, stress important points and work through examples. You will gain more benefit from the lecture if you read the relevant section of the textbook before coming to the lecture.

    Tutorials

    Tutorial classes will be held weekly commencing in the second week of semester. Tutorials are designed to elaborate on the material presented in the previous week’s lecture. It is a chance to work thought examples, ask questions and discuss issues.
    Membership of tutorial classes is to be finalised by the end of the first week of semester. Students wishing to swap between tutorial classes after this time are required to present their case to the Lecturer-in-Charge, but should be aware that such a request may not be approved.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    "The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
    As a guide, a 3 unit course comprises a total of 156 hours work (this includes face-to-face contact, any online components, and self-directed study)."
    Learning Activities Summary
    Teaching & Learning Activities Related Learning Outcomes
    Lectures       1 - 4
    Tutorials       1 - 4

    Week Topic
    1 Introduction and review of main concepts
    2 Monopoly: Sources of market power
    3 Monopoly: Nonlinear pricing and price discrimination
    4 Static models of oligopoly
    5 Dynamic models of oligopoly
    6 Product differentiation
    7 Entry deterrence
    8 Mid-term exam 
    9 Predatory pricing
    10 Vertical integration and vertical restraints 
    11 Horizontal concentration
    12 Optimal pricing for natural monopoly


  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment Task                             Due Date/Week       
     
     Weight             Length          Learning Outcomes         
    Weekly Assignments
    (Individual Work)
    Every week (TBA) 20% TBA 1,2,3
    Midterm Exam Week 8 (TBA)   30% TBA 1,2,3
    Project  Week 12 (TBA) 15% TBA 1,2,3,4
    Final Exam Week TBA 35% TBA 1,2,3,
    Total 100%
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission
    Unless special arrangements have been made, no assignment will be collected by your lecturer and failure to hand it in in due time will result in a zero mark.

    Each assignment should include a signed copy of the University’s cover sheet.

    There will be no alternative assessment opportunities.
    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.

  • 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.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

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