Unit Outline

BEA200 Public Policy and Welfare shows how economic theory can be directly applied to explain the behaviour of individuals and help solve the decisions that policymakers face. The unit introduces and uses the neoclassical theory of consumer behaviour to initially explain how individuals respond to changes in prices, wages, interest rates and income and how to measure their welfare. The unit then considers both market and non-market public policy options such as sin-taxes, the impact of subsidies, free education vs. vouchers, welfare payments and clawback. The unit concludes by examining concepts of efficiency and social welfare and their measurement in a general equilibrium framework. This unit is a core unit in the Bachelor of Economics and can be taken as a nominated elective in a wide range of other programs throughout the University of Tasmania.

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.	Use economic concepts and theories to analyse economic decisions.
2.	Apply economic theory to identify public policy issues and how public policy is influenced by efficiency and equity.
3.	Apply economic models to analyse key public policies.
4.	Effectively communicate economics in written format.

Requisites

REQUISITE TYPE

REQUISITES

Pre-requisite

BEA111
Prior Skills and Knowledge: Students enrolling in BEA200 are expected to have the following basic skills in mathematics (from high school): Basic Algebra – manipulation of equations, solving equations. Linear Functions – plotting functions, identifying slope and intercept. Logarithms and Exponentials – index and log laws. An understanding of simple calculus (simple and partial differentiation) is also useful but will be taught as part of the unit. Students enrolling in BEA200 are also expected to be able to use: MS Excel and MS Word – to perform simple calculations and produce professional reports.

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 (Online)	Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week	1	Weekly
	Workshop	2-hr workshop, fortnightly, commencing in Week 2	2	1 time per fortnight
	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:	Assignment	Week 7	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Microeconomic Policy Analysis	Week 14	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Quiz	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Assignment

Task Description:

Multipart questions that require the use of microeconomic analysis in order to examine policy issues.
Detailed guidelines and instructions will be distributed in lectures and posted on MyLO under “Assignments”. This assignment may be submitted individually or as a group of up to 2 students.
You must submit an electronic copy of your MS Word or PDF files only through the Assignment submission link on MyLO.

Task Length:

Approximately 16-25 pages. Minimum 1.5 line spacing, 11 point font. Assignment must be typed, diagrams may be hand drawn, and mathematics may be hand written.

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of economic concepts and theories.	LO1
2	Apply economic theory to identify public policy issues and analyse how public policy is influenced by efficiency and equity.	LO2
3	Identify and apply economic models to analyse key public policies.	LO3
4	Effectively communicate economics in written format.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Microeconomic Policy Analysis

Task Description:

Multipart questions that require the use of microeconomic analysis in order to examine public policy issues. Detailed guidelines and instructions will be posted.

Task Length:

8 to 16 pages. Minimum of 1.5 line spacing and 11-point font. Assignment must be typed, diagrams and mathematics may be hand-written if scanned and embedded into the final document

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of economic concepts and theories.	LO1
2	Apply economic theory to identify public policy issues and analyse how public policy is influenced by efficiency and equity.	LO2
3	Identify and apply economic models to analyse key public policies.	LO3
4	Effectively communicate economics in written format	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Quiz

Task Description:

There are five (5) multiple choice quizzes to be completed online via MyLO.
Quiz 1, week 3
Quiz 2, week 5
Quiz 3, week 7
Quiz 4, week 9
Quiz 5, week 12
‎Each quiz can be sat once anytime within the time it is available. You will have 20 minutes to complete each quiz on MyLO. Each will comprise 10 ‎multiple-choice questions.‎

Task Length:

20 minutes x 5

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

1	Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of economic concepts and theories.	LO1
2	Apply economic theory to identify public policy issues and analyse how public policy is influenced by efficiency and equity.	LO2
3	Identify and apply economic models to analyse key public policies.	LO3

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

Perloff, Smith and Round, Microeconomics (Australian Edition), Pearson, 2014. ISBN 9781442532830

This is the first ever Australian edition of an intermediate microeconomics text! It contains clear diagrams, solved problems, chapter summaries and applications of microeconomics to real-world Australian and international events, issues and policies.

Students may also wish to purchase e-book access for the prescribed text directly from Pearson’s Australian website.

eText only: http://www.pearson.com.au/9781442548695

Recommended reading materials

Most intermediate microeconomics texts are similar and could be used as an imperfect substitute to the prescribed text. If students wish to use an alternative intermediate microeconomics text, please check with the lecturer that it is suitable. The following is non-exhaustive list of imperfect substitute texts that are suitable and available for loan from the Morris Millar library:

· Besanko and Braeutigam, Microeconomics (4th Edition), John Wiley & Sons, 2010.

· Katz and Rosen, Microeconomics (2nd Edition), McGraw-Hill, 2004.

· Perloff, Microeconomics (3rd, 2nd, 1st Editions), Pearson Addison Wesley, 2004, 2001, 1999

· Pindyck and Rubinfeld, Microeconomics (6th, 3rd Editions), Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2004, 1995.

· Waldman, Microeconomics (2nd, 1st Editions), Pearson Addison Wesley, 2009, 2004.

Other required resources

Other Recommended Resources
The public access to the latest US edition of prescribed text’s website contains solved problems and applications is http://wps.aw.com/bp_perloff_microecon_7/
NSW HSC Microeconomic policy and structural change webpage http://hsc.csu.edu.au/economics/policies_mgt/2710/micropolicy.htm
The Open University 60 second adventures in economics http://www.open.edu/openlearn/society/politics-policy-people/economics/60-second-adventureseconomics-the-invisible-hand
Productivity Commission www.pc.gov.au
National Commission of Audit www.ncoa.gov.au
Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/
National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling www.natsem.canberra.edu.au
Department of Human Services www.humanservices.gov.au
Treasury www.treasury.gov.au
Reserve Bank of Australia www.rba.gov.au
Australian Bureau of Statistics www.abs.gov.au
Fair Work Commission www.fwc.gov.au
Department of Jobs and Small Business www.jobs.gov.au