Overview
This unit encompasses a broad ranging introduction to economic theory and analysis as well as a study of some applications of economics to economic systems and to enterprises. You will study microeconomics (how individual businesses and sectors operate) and macroeconomics (how an economy works as a whole). You will gain some understanding of why institutions are very important in an economy, and how internal and international trade creates economic wealth. Key goals in the unit will be to raise awareness of the importance of economic systems, introduction to the different fields of economic theory that are relevant to business, and develop some analytical skills.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Anti-Requisite: Econ20023
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 3 - 2025
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 Postgraduate 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 Self-reflection
Discuss assignments in class in more details
Provide additional explanation regarding assignments requirements during classes
Feedback from Self-reflection and students comments
The process for requesting extensions is unclear to students and may benefit from clearer guidance or communication.
Provide clear guidance in the first week of classes
- evaluate the theory of demand and supply in relation to price determination and examine some cases of market failure
- critically compare and contrast the characteristics of different market structures regarding the allocation of resources
- explain the macroeconomic concepts and demonstrate their application to study inflation and unemployment
- examine monetary and financial systems, the role of international trade, exchange rates and balance of payments issues and communicate these in economic terms.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15% | ||||
| 4 - Written Assessment - 35% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
| 4 - Research | ||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
Economics For Today
Edition: 7th (2021)
Authors: Layton, A., Robinson, T., Tang,T., Dharmaratna, D., & and Tucker, I. B.
Cengage Learning Australia
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9780170294010 ISBN: 9780170449021
ISBN: ISBN: 9780170449038 ISBN: 9780170294010 ISBN: 9780170449021 Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: ISBN: 9780170449038 ISBN: 9780170294010 ISBN: 9780170449021 Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Prescribed Textbook
Layton, A., Robinson, T., Tang,T., Dharmaratna, D., & and Tucker, I. B. (2021). Economics for Today. 7th Edition. Cengage: Melbourne, Victoria: Australia
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom access: microphone and webcam required
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
Module/Topic
Introduction to the economic way of thinking, production possibilities and opportunity cost
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapters 1 & 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Basics of the Market Mechanism: Demand and Supply Analysis
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapters 3 & 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Elasticity of Demand and Supply and Production Costs
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapters 5 & 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Perfect Competition and Monopoly
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapters 7 & 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment-1 Due: Friday Next Week-5
Module/Topic
Monopolistic Competition and
Oligopoly
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapter 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment-2 Due: Friday Next Week-6
Online Quiz(zes) Due: Week 5 Friday (12 Dec 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Policy Issues
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapter 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mid-Term - Christmas Break
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Merry Christmas Break
Module/Topic
Happy New Year Break 2026
29 - December - 2025 to 4 - January 2026
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Happy New Year Break 2026
Module/Topic
Macroeconomic Fundamentals: GDP
and Business Cycles
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapters 11 & 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Inflation and Unemployment. A simple
Model of Macro Economy
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapters 13 & 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The Monetary and Financial System
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapter 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Macroeconomic Policies
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapters 16 & 17
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment-3 Due: Friday Next Week-11
Module/Topic
International Trade and Finance
Chapter
Layton et al. (2021) Chapter 18
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment-4 Due: Friday Next Week-12
Online Quiz(zes) Due: Week 11 Friday (6 Feb 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Review Week: No Scheduled Class in Week 12
Work on Assignment- 4 submission
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Exam Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
The assessment item 1 covers microeconomic topics (Chapters 1-9). It is worth 15 marks and has to be completed online. The link is provided on the unit Moodle website.
Week 5 Friday (12 Dec 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
No late submissions will be accepted without an approved extension.
Week 5 Friday (12 Dec 2025)
Marks will be released on the due date.
Assessment criteria include: correct calculations, correct diagrams. More details are provided on the unit Moodle website.
- evaluate the theory of demand and supply in relation to price determination and examine some cases of market failure
- critically compare and contrast the characteristics of different market structures regarding the allocation of resources
2 Written Assessment
The second assessment is a research essay (2500 words). It is worth 35 marks.
Further details of the assignment are available on the unit Moodle site (Assessment block).
Research essay requires a significant research to be undertaken and will take some time to develop a quality answer.
Penalties (5%) of the total available marks for the assessment for each calendar day (full or part) it is overdue) will apply
for any late submissions without an approved extension.
Note: No submissions, including the ones automatically submitted by Moodle, will be reverted to draft after the due date.
More information about Moodle submission is provided on the unit Moodle website.
Week 6 Friday (19 Dec 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Submit before the Christmas break. No late submissions will be accepted without an approved extension.
Week 8 Friday (16 Jan 2026)
Only those students who submit assignments on time can expect this return date.
Assessment criteria includes: clear explanations of key points of economic theory, evidence of research for case studies
and correct in-text referencing following APA referencing style. More details are provided on the unit Moodle website.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with the Plagiarism policy. The following information is from the Academic
Misconduct Procedure Policy available from CQUni website: https://www.cqu.edu.au/policy
"Plagiarism: the presentation of work, ideas or data of others as one’s own, without appropriate acknowledgment and
referencing. Plagiarism also includes self-plagiarism. Examples include:
a) the inclusion of one or more sentences from another person’s work, or tables, graphs, images, designs, computer
programs and any other data, ideas or work without the use of quotation marks and acknowledgment of the source and
without referencing
b) the use of one or more sentences from the work of another person where a few words have been changed or where
the order of copied phrases/sentences has been changed
c) copying the work of another student, with or without their agreement.
Self-plagiarism: the presentation of one’s own work for more than one assessment without acknowledgment and
referencing. Examples include the reuse of all or part of one’s own work that has already been given academic credit,
without acknowledgment.
Cheating: fraud, dishonesty or deceit of any kind in relation to an academic assessment. Examples include:
a) copying or attempting to copy from other students in either an examination or assessment
b) colluding with other students in individual assessments
c) allowing others to provide you with any material that give you an unfair advantage in an assessment
d) providing material to other students to enable them to present it as a part or whole as their own work
e) completing an assessment for another person or having another person assisting in the completion of your
assessment
f) providing forged or falsified medical or other documents to gain an academic advantage
g) making a false claim in relation to an assessment or examination in order to obtain an unfair advantage
h) falsification of data, information or citations as part of an assessment
i) taking actions to prevent other students from completing their assessment work".
- evaluate the theory of demand and supply in relation to price determination and examine some cases of market failure
- critically compare and contrast the characteristics of different market structures regarding the allocation of resources
3 Online Quiz(zes)
The assessment item 3 covers macroeconomic topics (Chapters 11-18). It is worth 15 marks and has to be done online.
The link is provided on the unit Moodle website.
Week 11 Friday (6 Feb 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
No late submissions will be accepted without an approved extension.
Week 11 Friday (6 Feb 2026)
Marks will be released on the due date.
Assessment criteria include: correct calculations, correct diagrams. More details are provided on the unit Moodle website.
- explain the macroeconomic concepts and demonstrate their application to study inflation and unemployment
- examine monetary and financial systems, the role of international trade, exchange rates and balance of payments issues and communicate these in economic terms.
4 Written Assessment
The fourth assessment is a research essay (2500 words). It is worth 35 marks.
Further details of the assignment are available on the unit Moodle site (Assessment block).
Research essay requires a significant research to be undertaken and will take some time to develop a quality answer.
Penalties (5%) of the total available marks for the assessment for each calendar day (full or part) it is overdue) will apply
for any late submissions without an approved extension.
Note: No submissions, including the ones automatically submitted by Moodle, will be reverted to draft after the due date.
More information about Moodle submission is provided on the unit Moodle website.
Week 12 Friday (13 Feb 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
No late submissions will be accepted without an approved extension.
Assignment -4 marks before grade certfication. Only those students who submit assignments on time can expect this return date.
Assessment criteria includes: clear explanations of key points of economic theory, evidence of research for case studies
and correct in-text referencing following APA referencing style. More details are provided on the unit Moodle website.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with the Plagiarism policy.
- explain the macroeconomic concepts and demonstrate their application to study inflation and unemployment
- examine monetary and financial systems, the role of international trade, exchange rates and balance of payments issues and communicate these in economic terms.
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?
