Economics

This subject area is offered by the School of Economics (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences).

Economics is a diverse, fascinating discipline that studies a wide range of issues that shape the broad framework of society – political, social and commercial. The School of Economics has a proud history as one of the most highly ranked centres in economics.

The objective of the major in Economics is to equip students for the diverse range of careers which value the key skills of the discipline – understanding economic and social phenomena, analysing economic data, and exploring alternative choices in addressing key challenges. The major builds the training in economics incrementally. It addresses the essentials of the discipline early in the degree, which opens a wide range of choice at senior level. This allows students to shape concentrations in areas of interest – in macroeconomics, or in areas of applied economic policy.

Requirements for a major in Economics

Note. These requirements are for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce and related combined degrees and the Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies).

For the award of a major in Economics, students complete:

(1) 24 credit points in junior prerequisite units of study, as follows:

• BUSS1020 Quantitative Business Analysis (OR ECMT1010 Introduction to Economic Statistics) +
• ECMT1020 Introduction to Econometrics
• BUSS1040 Economics for Business Decision Making (OR ECON1001 Introductory Microeconomics) +
• ECON1002 Introductory Macroeconomics.

+ Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce and related combined degrees MUST complete BUSS1020 and BUSS1040 as prerequisites for this major (as they are core units for these programs).

(2) 36 credit points in senior units of study, comprising:

(i) 12 credit points in compulsory units of study, as follows:

• ECOS2001 Intermediate Microeconomics; OR ECOS2901 Intermediate Microeconomics Honours
• ECOS2002 Intermediate Macroeconomics; OR ECOS2902 Intermediate Macroeconomics Honours.

(ii) 24 credit points in elective units of study (with a minimum of 18 credit points at 3000-level) selected from the following options:

• ECOS2004 Money and Banking
• ECOS2025 East Asian Economies
• ECOS2201 Economics of Competition and Strategy
• ECOS2307 The European Economy *
• ECOS2903 Mathematical Economics A
• ECOS3002 Development Economics
• ECOS3003 Hierarchies, Incentives and Firm Structure
• ECOS3004 History of Economic Thought
• ECOS3005 Industrial Organisation
• ECOS3006 International Trade
• ECOS3007 International Macroeconomics
• ECOS3008 Labour Economics
• ECOS3010 Monetary Economics
• ECOS3011 Public Finance
• ECOS3012 Strategic Behaviour
• ECOS3013 Environmental Economics
• ECOS3015 Law and Economics
• ECOS3016 Experimental and Behavioural Economics
• ECOS3017 Health Economics
• ECOS3018 Economics of Growth *
• ECOS3019 Capital and Dynamics *
• ECOS3020 Special Topic in Economics
• ECOS3021 Business Cycles and Asset Markets
• ECOS3022 The Economics of Financial Markets
• ECOS3023 Personnel Economics
• ECOS3024 Economic History
• ECOS3025 The Economics of Regulation
• ECOS3027 Economics of the Family
• ECOS3901 Advanced Microeconomics Honours
• ECOS3902 Advanced Macroeconomics Honours
• ECOS3903 Applied Microeconometrics
• ECOS3904 Applied Macroeconometrics.

* Not offered for 2016.

Note: All units of study listed are six credit points unless otherwise indicated.

Unit prerequisites, corequisites and other requirements are outlined in the School of Economics units of study table.

Junior elective units of study

The following junior Economics units of study can be completed as electives within many Business School programs.

• ECON1003 Quantitative Methods in Economics
• ECON1005 The Australian Economy
• ECON1006 The Economics of Everything.

Note: These units are not prerequisites for an Economics major.