Overview
This unit introduces basic principles of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory and the methods of economic analysis . You will examine the demand-supply model, market equilibrium, elasticity, and how the prices of goods and services, and the cost and revenue curves are determined. You will compare the key market structures: perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly and examine why government intervention is necessary in order to correct market failure and achieve allocative and productive efficiency. You will be introduced to the key macroeconomic indicators and their role in managing the economy. You will be given the opportunity to explore the dynamics of macroeconomic policies, and their effectiveness in achieving national economic objectives and dynamic efficiency to achieve long term economic growth.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Through Moodle Site
More explanation and interpretations of graphs required.
Unit Coordinator and the campus lecturers will spend more time on explaining graphs during lectures and review the understanding during the tutorial sessions.
Feedback from Through Moodle Site
I have a much broader understanding of economics through examples, and how it affects every area of our lives in ways we never knew!
Unit Coordinator and the campus lecturers will continue to provide theory to practice examples relating micro-economics and macro-economics to everyday life.
Feedback from In Class and Unit Evaluation Comments
The theory to practice exercises and revision quizzes helped to score high marks in the quiz test and assignment. But I feel a more interactive approach would help with this unit.
Unit Coordinator will continue to provide revision quizzes and other H5P inter-active activities to suit diverse learning style of the students, to increase moodle engagement, learning from all types of diverse resources and assignment task.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation Comment
Having a zoom tutorial session from 5 to 7pm is great especially for distance students.But having the option where distance students who work can attend the tutorial session is a really nice thing
Timetabling will consider to continue to have evening zoom tutorial session from 5pm-7pm for distance ad offshore students.
- Describe and illustrate basic economic principles as they relate to consumer and business decisions.
- Describe the firm's production decisions in a range of market structures.
- Demonstrate how government intervention may be beneficial in cases of market failure in order to achieve more desirable outcomes for the economy and the society.
- Explain macroeconomic goals and assess various macroeconomic policies to stabilise the economy.
This Core Unit meets the Bachelor of Business (Accounting) professional outcomes, standards and assessment tasks as required by the external accounting accrediting bodies.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
Essentials of Economics
- Edition: 5th (2022)
- Authors: Hubbard, G.R., Garnett, A. M., Lewis, P., & O’Brien, A.
- Pearson Education
- Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
- ISBN: 9780655702870
- Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Hubbard, G.R., Garnett, A. M., Lewis, P., & O’Brien, A. (2022). Essentials of Economics. 5th Edition. Melbourne, Victoria. Pearson Education, Australia. (Paperback)
e-Book (not-interactive) is also available for half the price of paperback from the CQU - Bookshop
Revel Book- with Interactive content. (***Recommended option***) Revel is your book delivered interactively. Read,
practice, and study in one continuous experience on your computer, tablet or mobile device – quizzes, videos, interactive activities.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom account (Free)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.medhekar@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Economics: Foundations, Models and
Trade-Offs
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapters 1 & 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Market Demand, Supply and Elasticity
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapters 3 & 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Technology, Production and Costs
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Market Structures and Competition
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapter 7
Selected sections of Chapters 8 & 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Term 1- 2024 Census Date = 26th March
Week 5
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Market Failure and The Role of
Government
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapter 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment-1 Online Quiz(zes) Due
Online Quiz(zes) Due: Week 5 Friday (5 Apr 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Mid-Term Break
Please start work on Assignment-2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Mid-Term Break: Monday 8- to-14 April Sunday
Start Answering Assessment 2
Week 6
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Introduction to Macroeconomics and
GDP
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapters 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Start Answering Assessment 2
Week 7
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Unemployment and Inflation
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapters 14 & 5
Selected sections of Ch.15 Aggregate
Demand (AD) & Aggregate Supply (AS)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment -2 Due
Written Assessment (Short Answer Response) Due: Week 7 Friday (26 Apr 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Monetary Policy
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapters 16 &17
Selected sections of Ch.16. Money, Bank & RBA
Events and Submissions/Topic
Start Answering Assessment 3: Part A
Week 9
Begin Date: 06 May 2024Module/Topic
Fiscal Policy
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapter 18
Events and Submissions/Topic
Start Answering Assessment 3: Part A
Week 10
Begin Date: 13 May 2024Module/Topic
International Trade and Globalisation
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapter 19
Events and Submissions/Topic
Start Answering Assessment 3: Part B
Week 11
Begin Date: 20 May 2024Module/Topic
International Finance and Exchange Rates
Chapter
Hubbard et al. (2022) Chapter 20
Events and Submissions/Topic
Start Answering Assessment 3: Part B
Week 12
Begin Date: 27 May 2024Module/Topic
Unit Summary and Review Week
Chapter
Chapters covered under Macroeconomic
section of the Unit
Events and Submissions/Topic
Start Answering Assessment 3: Part B
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Revision Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Written Assignment- 3 Due Monday
Written Assessment Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (3 June 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Standard Exam Week: 10th - 14th June 2024
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
- Number of Quizzes = 4 Quiz Tests (5 marks each = 20 marks)
- Students must attempt all four (4) quizzes online (Moodle).
- The quizzes comprise multiple-choice questions.
- These quizzes cover the topics from the first three weeks of study (Chapters 1 to 4 & 6 of the prescribed text).
- Students have three attempts for each online quiz test.
- It is expected that students must attempt the Revision Quiz, before the actual 4 Quiz Tests.
- Students are expected to complete these graded quizzes weekly in a progressive manner and not in one go.
4
Weekly
Week 5 Friday (5 Apr 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Feedback is provided after the completion of the quiz.
No Assessment Criteria.
- Describe and illustrate basic economic principles as they relate to consumer and business decisions.
- Describe the firm's production decisions in a range of market structures.
2 Written Assessment
- Assignment Weighting: 30 marks (30%)
- Assessment 2 takes a short-answer format and requires responding to four questions focusing on the topics covered in Weeks 4-5 (Chapters 7, 8, 9 & 11 of the prescribed text).
- The task involves theoretical questions, graphs, calculations, real-life applications of market structures, externalities, and the role of government.
- It is recommended that students work on the questions progressively from week- 5, rather than attempt to complete them in one day.
- It is important that you familiarise yourself with the University Plagiarism Policy https://www.cqu.edu.au/student-life/services-and-facilities/referencing/what-is-plagiarism. Penalties apply for plagiarism, copying from other student's assignment, including own plagiarism.
- Late submission Penalties (5% of the Assessment marks per day) also apply without an approved extension.
This assessment allows for a re-submitted attempt in certain circumstances.
- If you have achieved between 40–49% of the total marks for this assessment item, you may request the Unit Coordinator for this unit to allow you to make a re-submission.
- You must make this request in writing via email within three calendar days of receiving your marks and feedback for this assessment.
- The Unit Coordinator has the sole discretion for allowing a re-submission attempt. If the Unit Coordinator allows a re-submission attempt, the decision will be conveyed to you in writing via email to your student email address.
- The re-submission notice will include instructions for you on:
- What has to be done by you? When and how you must resubmit? (no more than seven calendar days from the decision being emailed to you will be allowed).
- Your re-submission will result in no more than 50% of the allowed marks for this assessment item being awarded in total.
- That is, if you are allowed a re-submission, you can achieve no more than 50% for this assessment item, regardless of how well you perform in your re-submission.
- Please Note: No extensions will be allowed for your assignment re-submission.
Week 7 Friday (26 Apr 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Friday: 26- April- 2024
Week 9 Friday (10 May 2024)
Two weeks from the assignment submission date
The Assessment Criteria Includes:
1. Clarity of presentation
2. Evidence of research and in-text and end-of-text referencing
3. Analysis of the real-life economic examples/scenario or policy
4. Application of economic theory (definitions, assumptions, and relevant graphs)
5. More details of Assignment 2 questions, formatting guidelines, submission tips and APA-7 referencing style guide are available under the 'Assessment Tile' of the Econ11026 Unit Moodle site.
- Describe and illustrate basic economic principles as they relate to consumer and business decisions.
- Describe the firm's production decisions in a range of market structures.
- Demonstrate how government intervention may be beneficial in cases of market failure in order to achieve more desirable outcomes for the economy and the society.
3 Written Assessment
Task -3 'Written Assessment' covers the Macroeconomic section of the unit.
It requires you to demonstrate both theoretical and applied knowledge relating to real-life examples of macroeconomy.
Written Assessment - 3 Task, consists of two parts.
Part A worth 20 marks, will cover short answer questions (approximately 800 words).
Part B worth 30 marks, students will analyse a contemporary macroeconomic policy issue and write a research essay on the topic (approximately 2200 words). The task requires a significant reading and research effort and will take time to develop a quality response. Students are strongly encouraged to commence the work well before the deadline.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with the University Plagiarism Policy. Penalties apply for copying from other students, not acknowledging information sources, and plagiarism including own-plagiarism.
Penalties (5% of the Assessment marks per day) apply for late submissions without an approved extension.
Review/Exam Week Monday (3 June 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
3-June-2024: Monday of Review Week
Marks and feedback will be released after the grade certification.
- More details of the assignment-3 questions and the marking rubric will be available in the Assessment Tile of the Unit Moodle site.
- Assessment criteria overall includes the overview of the current economic environment with regard to business cycle; description
of macroeconomic goals, macroeconomic policy objectives and processes and their impact on the aggregate demand;
factors influencing the current macroeconomic policy stance; limitations of policy; the clarity of explanations and referencing; and the use of the DADA framework. - Part - A: Students are expected to answer calculation, graphical, and short answer questions applying theory to real-life example. (approximately 800 words).
- Part - B: Students are expected to answer and analyse a contemporary macroeconomic objective or a policy issue and write a research essay on the topic (approximately 2200 words). Structure your essay keeping in mind - Define the key terms, explain assumptions, graphical explanation, and analysis by applying theory to real-life examples.
- It is recommended that students work progressively on preparing weekly answers to the assignment questions provided for macroeconomic topics covered (weeks 6-11), to avoid late penalty and extensions.
- Describe and illustrate basic economic principles as they relate to consumer and business decisions.
- Explain macroeconomic goals and assess various macroeconomic policies to stabilise the economy.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
