This unit explores different views about the economy, the role of government, policies, and the causes, social and political aspects of economic events. You are introduced to the principal schools of economic thought -Classical, Marxian, Institutional, Neoclassical, Keynesian and Contemporary Political Economy. You will learn to apply these different perspectives to a political economy analysis of contemporary issues like climate change, social protest, the gig economy, wage theft, and global health pandemics. You will study the analytical focus, core concepts and insights of the different schools of economic thought within the context of the historical development of capitalist economies.

This unit explores global economic integration, especially the renewed 'globalisation' from the 1980s. You will be introduced to different explanatory theories of changing historical patterns. You will analyse debates about whether increased trade, production and financial integration has been for the better or worse, and who have been the winners and the losers. You will concurrently explore the forms of, and debates about, the regulation of economic activity on a global scale, addressing the development and changing roles of states and international agencies.

This unit is designed to extend your understanding of the workings of the evolving capitalist economy. You will do this by critically engaging with economic theory which will deepen your knowledge of different schools of economic thought introduced to you in ECOP1001. This critical engagement will enable you to evaluate the fundamental economic features of capitalism such as: the role of markets in social provisioning and capital accumulation; class and inequality; the workings of money and finance; the nexus between unemployment and inflation; the tension between economic growth and the environment; and innovation and technological change.

This unit examines the ways in which the economic activities of capitalism are 'embedded' within a much broader social structure. To do this, you will study the nature, structure, and relations of capitalism’s core institutions such as capital, labour, households, and the state. You will consider the conflict, contradiction, and cohesion inherent in the relationships between these institutions with respect to the racialised, classed, gendered and environmental processes of capital accumulation.

One of the most contentious issues in economic debates concerns the role of the state in responding to contemporary economic and social problems such as financial crises, ruptures in relations with major trading partners, or pandemics like COVID-19. In this unit, you will interrogate the contemporary economic policies of the Australian state. You will consider: how these macroeconomic policies have evolved as they have been shaped by different economic theories, interests, and ideologies; how these policies actually operate in practice; and, how a nation-state’s economic policies are influenced by international economic factors.

This unit is designed to extend your understanding of the workings of the evolving capitalist economy. You will do this by critically engaging with economic theory which will deepen your knowledge of different schools of economic thought introduced to you in ECOP1001. This critical engagement will enable you to evaluate the fundamental economic features of capitalism such as: the role of markets in social provisioning and capital accumulation; class and inequality; the workings of money and finance; the nexus between unemployment and inflation; the tension between economic growth and the environment; and innovation and technological change.

This unit examines the ways in which the economic activities of capitalism are 'embedded' within a much broader social structure. To do this, you will study the nature, structure, and relations of capitalism’s core institutions such as capital, labour, households, and the state. You will consider the conflict, contradiction, and cohesion inherent in the relationships between these institutions with respect to the racialised, classed, gendered and environmental processes of capital accumulation.

One of the most contentious issues in economic debates concerns the role of the state in responding to contemporary economic and social problems such as financial crises, ruptures in relations with major trading partners, or pandemics like COVID-19. In this unit, you will interrogate the contemporary economic policies of the Australian state. You will consider: how these macroeconomic policies have evolved as they have been shaped by different economic theories, interests, and ideologies; how these policies actually operate in practice; and, how a nation-state’s economic policies are influenced by international economic factors.

Although our current era is characterized by the unprecedented legitimacy of equality as an ideal and as a political norm, it is marked by vast social and economic inequalities. This unit seeks to explain this paradoxical situation. It introduces students to some of the central theoretical questions; investigates the historical development of inequality within and between countries; and examines some of the key mechanisms through which inequality is produced in modern societies. It concludes by considering possible alternatives and responses.

This unit interrogates the political economy of global development. You will be introduced to debates about the meaning, measurement and politics of poverty and economic development as they have changed over time. You will learn to evaluate the socio-economic dynamics of poverty and approaches to global development, particularly as they are evolving in the post-COVID era. Models of development finance and aid, the use of social policy, and the critical role that gender, climate change, technology and migration play in the global development experience are all explored.

This unit introduces you to some of the big debates in the social sciences, through an exploration of the meaning and limits of class concepts in social theory. You will consider structure and agency, theory and praxis, gender, race, and the contemporary relevance of class. Your knowledge will be extended as you explore the methods used for the empirical study of race, gender and class. You will learn to communicateideas verbally and in clear readable prose through an oral presentation and structured essays. This unit adds breadth to the range of political economy issues you have studied previously and adds depth to your political economy analytical and writing skills.

This unit explores the relationship between our economy and our environment. You will be introduced to different ways of understanding this relationship including environmental economics, ecological economics, Marxist ecology and eco-feminism. You will learn how these schools diagnose environmental problems as products of market failures, limits to growth or social inequalities. You will examine different policy solutions for creating more sustainable economies, such as market mechanisms, steady state and environmental justice. You will apply debates on the political economy of the environment through case studies of issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and water scarcity.

The capitalist economy is organised around the circulation and pursuit of money. The financial system is neither a parasite on nor a veil over the 'real economy'; it is the organiser and disciplinarian of capitalism as an economic system, and it also breaks down from time to time, sometimes spectacularly. In this unit, you will explore: the evolution of money from the gold standard to the present; and, the institutions, instruments, and markets of modern finance, with a special focus on financial innovation and its challenges. You will critically engage with mainstream and other economic theories of finance, and apply these to understanding real world financial structures and events.

This is an intensive 3 week integrated program of classes and field visits on the political economy of development and environmental management in India. The course provides students with a cross-disciplinary international learning experience in which they develop familiarity with an important Asian regional economy and the cultural competency to do research in this context.

This unit journeys through episodes of crises and instability in order to understand their key dynamics are embedded within historical, institutional and social contexts. You will study why some crises have a cyclical character while others do not, and how crisis contains elements to unlock the secrets of present-day and future sources of instability. To detect patterns (trends, cycles and volatility), you will be trained to use basic time series techniques for data analysis which will also assist you to undertake a project that evaluates sources of instability and discusses the challenges for policymakers to soften the ill-effects of economic downturns and create conditions for recovery.

This unit examines the development of the capitalist world economy. You will analyse the explanations offered by different theoretical perspectives of the long-term historical and uneven development which has occurred. To understand the dimensions, scale and implications of this uneven development of global capitalism, you will consider: capitalism’s origins and Great Transformation; the post-World War long boom; the international monetary system’s formation and crisis; the global role played by the United States; the development of growth poles in Europe and Asia; the Global Financial Crisis; the Arab Spring; drug war capitalism; and, the possibilities for non-capitalist development.

Neoliberalism is a key concept in contemporary debates about the forces reshaping the global economy. This unit introduces students to the history, theories and practices of neoliberalism. The unit begins with a focus on neoliberal ideas. It then examines institutional transformations in the neoliberal era, and changes to the economy and processes of capital accumulation. Students are exposed to competing scholarly interpretations of neoliberalism, before turning to an examination of neoliberalism and the global financial crisis.

This unit seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the various theoretical frameworks within which political economic analysis is constructed, and to which you have been introduced in other political economy units. To do this, you will focus on the methodologies, core concepts and philosophical underpinnings of the principal schools of economic thought with particular emphasis on the non-neoclassical approaches to the study of economic issues. If you are considering further study in political economy (Honours, MPhil or PhD), you are strongly encouraged to undertake this unit as it provides the necessary fundamental preparation for further study.

Interdisciplinarity is a key skill in fostering agility in life and work. This unit provides learning experiences that build students' skills, knowledge and understanding of the application of their disciplinary background to interdisciplinary contexts. In this unit, students will work in teams and develop interdisciplinarity skills through problem-based learning projects responding to 'real world problems'.

Interdisciplinarity is a key skill in fostering agility in life and work. This unit provides learning experiences that build students' skills, knowledge and understanding of the application of their disciplinary background to interdisciplinary contexts. In this unit, students will work in teams and develop interdisciplinarity skills through problem-based learning projects responding to 'real world problems'.

This interdisciplinary unit provides students with the opportunity to address complex problems identified by industry, community, and government organisations, and gain valuable experience in working across disciplinary boundaries. In collaboration with a major industry partner and an academic lead, students integrate their academic skills and knowledge by working in teams with students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. This experience allows students to research, analyse and present solutions to a realworld problem, and to build on their interpersonal and transferable skills by engaging with and learning from industry experts and presenting their ideas and solutions to the industry partner.