ECG9146

Regional economic development and policy

Dr Gennadi Kazakevitch

6 points · Distance, approximately 12 hours per week · Second semester · Gippsland · Prerequisite: ECG9102, ECG9120

Objectives This subject builds upon microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts, enabling students to analyse the problem of regional economic development within an international, national and regional context. Students will further cultivate the ability to: understand how economic principles can be extended to address specialised problems of regional development; develop strong analytical and research skills within an economic framework; apply economic analysis to contemporary regional economic development issues; use economic tools to assist decision making in regional economic development policy; use economic tools to critically evaluate contemporary regional policy debates.

Synopsis This subject involves the study of processes shaping the economic growth and development of regions with special emphasis on policy issues from the Australian perspective and on international comparison. A variety of questions are considered including: which factors determine the structure of a regional economy; what are the reasons for regional desparities in growth and development; what factors explain regional employment and income differentials; how do those differentials effect the propensity of the population to move from one region to another; what are the aims of and instruments for regional economic policy; what are the limitations of governments' involvement in regional economic development; how does a specific regional economic development affect business strategies; and is international experience in regional economic development policies applicable to Australia.

Assessment Essay work (2000 words): 40% · Case study (4000 words): 60%

Prescribed texts

Armstrong H and Taylor J Regional economics and policy 2nd edn, Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1993
Bendavid-Val A Regional and local economic analysis for practitioners 4th edn, Praeger, 1991

Back to the 1999 Business and Economics Handbook