Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit provides an analytical framework for studying economic problems of developing countries. We will examine how standard economic theories apply in the presence of market failures and weak formal institutions that characterise developing countries. The key focus is on general problems facing developing countries rather than any specific country or region. It examines specific issues and policy problems that are currently faced by developing nations, including issues such as inequality, poverty, population growth, rural-urban migration, human capital accumulation, gender bias, markets in developing countries, credit constraints and risk and insurance.

Objectives

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

• apply basic microeconomic principles and analytical tools to understand, interpret and assess the transport sector and government transport policies
• appreciate the special characteristics of the transport sector and the operation of transport markets
• recognise the presence and influence of economies of scale and scope, joint costs, price discrimination, peak and off-peak pricing and factors which shape the derived nature of transport demand and the inner-relationships between transport markets and other markets, including land markets.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 30%
Examination (2 hours): 70%

Chief examiner(s)

Pushkar Maitra

Contact hours

3 hours per week

Prerequisites

ECC2000

Prohibitions

ECC4367