ECC5901 - Macroeconomics - 2018

6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Business and Economics

Organisational Unit

Department of Economics

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Qingyuan Du (First semester)
Dr Siew Ling Yew (Second semester)

Coordinator(s)

Dr Qingyuan Du (First semester)
Dr Siew Ling Yew (Second semester)

Unit guides

Offered

Clayton

  • First semester 2018 (On-campus)
  • Second semester 2018 (On-campus)

Prohibitions

ECC2010, ETC2010, ECC9010, ECX9010

Synopsis

This unit focuses on macroeconomic theory and policy; managing aggregate demand; economic growth and fluctuations. Content covers the following topics in detail:

  • open-economy IS-LM framework and AD-AS framework
  • principles of monetary and fiscal policy and problems of implementation
  • alternative theories of aggregate supply; imperfect information; labour market rigidities
  • explaining and correcting inflation and unemployment.

This unit provides an intermediate level treatment of macroeconomic theory and policy. Its central focus is the analysis of the factors and processes that determine the macroeconomic performance of a nation as reflected in such indicators as aggregate output, employment, the price level and exchange rate, and the balance of payments.

Implications of this analysis for the formulation of national economic policy are explored with particular application to Australia.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. analyse systematically the forces that determine change in macroeconomic performance and living standards in Australia
  2. understand the relationship between the domestic economy and the international economic environment as reflected in the behaviour of the balance of payments and exchange rates
  3. evaluate critically the issues underlying important contemporary policy debates in Australia and elsewhere
  4. understand the nature and relevance of some significant recent developments in macroeconomics
  5. practice rigorous economic analysis and put that to constructive use in decision-making.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 40% + Examination: 60%

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information