Unit Outline
BEA111
Introduction to Markets and the Economy
Semester 1, 2024
Clinton Levitt
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Clinton Levitt
Email: Clinton.Levitt@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
BEA111 introduces the key concepts in economics, both microeconomics and macroeconomics. It demonstrates how these concepts can be used to describe and explain the decisions of businesses and individuals and their reactions to world events, social and economic change and government policy.
The unit explains why and when markets work and fail. Many of the problems that nations face such as pollution, unemployment, climate change, deflation, inflation, poverty, education and health are market failures. The unit devotes considerable time towards explaining how to develop basic microeconomic and macroeconomic policies for market failures and how to evaluate their welfare consequences for different members of society.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Define and interpret key microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts.
2.
Apply basic microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts to describe the impact of global events, social change, and government policy on markets and the macroeconomy.
3.
Describe how and why markets work and how and why they fail.
4.
Develop and critically evaluate basic microeconomic and macroeconomic policy solutions to market failures and identify their welfare implications.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
BEA110, XPD102, BAA110
Alterations as a result of student feedback
To Be Determined. 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Lecture (On Campus)
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Workshop
2-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
2
Weekly
Other
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Online
Online Class
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Independent Learning
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Online Class
1-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
1
Weekly
Independent Learning
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics regularly hosts Masterclasses and Industry Engagement and Employability Events, which students are encouraged to attend. Registration and details will be available via the College of Business and Economics channel on the Uni App and/or via your Unit Coordinator.  
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Online Quizzes
See the MyLO site for the due date
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Assignment 1 - Micro economics
Week 8
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Assignment 2 - Macroeconomics
Week 12
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO4
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Online Quizzes
Task Description:
There are twelve (12) multiple choice quizzes to be completed online via MyLO, one due each week from week 2 to 13. It is advisable to wait until you have participated in your workshop and check the solutions before undertaking each quiz.

The scores from the ten quizzes in which you score the highest, will determine your total score for this assessment, which means you can miss up to two (2) quizzes without penalty during the semester. Your total score for this assessment task contributes 20% to your final mark in the unit.

Each quiz will be available until Sunday 11 pm of that week. You have two attempts for each quiz and the best out of the two attempts will be selected. You will have 20 minutes to complete each quiz on MyLO.

Task Length:
20 minutes per week for 12 weeks.
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Use microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts to describe markets and the macroeconomy.
LO1
2
Use microeconomic and macroeconomic data with appropriate economic concepts to describe markets and the macroeconomy.
LO1
3
Apply basic microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts to describe markets, trade and the interaction of market participants.
LO2
4
Apply basic economics models and tools to analyse reactions of markets and the macroeconomy to social and economic change.
LO2
5
Identify different types of market failures and why they cause markets to fail.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Assignment 1 - Micro economics
Task Description:
This individual assignment is designed to develop your ability to apply microeconomic concepts analysis to a range of current policy issues. It will also develop your ability to present microeconomic arguments and analysis clearly. More details of this assignment are provided in the assessment section of MyLO. You must submit your assignment as a single PDF file through the Assignment submission link in MyLO.

Task Length:
Approximately 12 pages plus diagrams and calculations
Due Date:
Week 8
Weight:
40 %
 

 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply basic microeconomic concepts, data and analysis to describe and explain markets, trade and the interaction of market participants.
LO1
2
Apply basic microeconomic concepts and analysis to describe the impact of global events, social change, government policy and changing economic conditions on markets.
LO2
3
Identify and describe different types of market failures and explain why they cause markets to fail.
LO3
4
Develop and evaluate basic microeconomic policy solutions to market failures.
LO4
5
Quantify the welfare implications of market failures and their solutions for consumers, firms and governments.
LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Assignment 2 - Macroeconomics
Task Description:
This individual assignment is designed to develop your ability to apply macroeconomic concepts and analysis to the current state of the macroeconomy and the issues it faces. It will also develop your ability to present macroeconomic arguments and analysis clearly. More details of this assignment are provided in the assessment section of MyLO. You must submit your assignment as a single PDF file through the Assignment submission link in MyLO.

Task Length:
Approximately 12 pages plus diagrams and calculations.
Due Date:
Week 12
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Use appropriate macroeconomic concepts to describe and explain the macroeconomy.
LO1
2
Use macroeconomic data with appropriate economic concepts to describe the macroeconomy.
LO1
3
Apply basic macroeconomic concepts to describe the impact of global events, social change, government policy and changing economic conditions on the macroeconomy.
LO2
4
Develop and evaluate basic macroeconomic policy for the current macroeconomic conditions.
LO4
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
You will need a hard copy or e-text of either:
Hubbard, R. Glen., Anne Garnett, Phil Lewis, Anthony O'Brien (2021), Essentials of Economics, (5th edn), Pearson. ISBN 9780655702870, NSW.
OR
Hubbard, R. Glen., Anne Garnett, Phil Lewis, Anthony O'Brien (2018), Essentials of Economics, (4th edn), Pearson. ISBN 9781488616983, NSW.
Second-hand copies of 4th edition of the prescribed text are perfectly acceptable. 
Paperback copies of the 5th edition can be purchased from Booktopia and other online retailers.
Print, eTextbook, MyLab and Revel versions of the text are also available from the publisher's online store at www.pearson.com
The MyLab and Revel versions of the text available from Pearson provides additional resources and opportunities to learn using an integrated approach.
 
 
Recommended reading materials
You should read/listen/watch the economics and political sections of major international, national and local media. But be aware that each media outlet has its biases! Try to read/listen/watch from both conservative and progressive media outlets. In addition, try to find the original source or the article and make your own conclusions, rather than accepting someone else’s opinion.
Saul Eslake (Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Tasmania) produces a lot of presentations and charts weekly at https://www.saul-eslake.com/corinna-economicadvisory/ . You can subscribe to his mailing list and receive much of his commentary and charts for free.
 
Other required resources
• Australian Bureau of Statistics: www.abs.gov.au
• Reserve Bank of Australia: www.rba.gov.au
• Gapminder: www.gapminder.org
• Core Econ: www.core-econ.org
• OECD Statistics: www.stats.oecd.org
• The World Bank: www.worldbank.org
• The IMF: www.imf.org