Unit Outline
BEA470
Microeconomics
Semester 1, 2024
Satoshi Yamazaki
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Satoshi Yamazaki
Email: Satoshi.Yamazaki@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Microeconomics is essential for advancing understanding of human behaviours and evaluating the impact of public policy and business practices. The unit builds upon the materials covered in undergraduate economic units. The goal of the unit is to apply the basic principles of microeconomics to analyse a range of real-world problems and policy issues that involve the behaviour of consumers and firms and market interaction. The unit covers both theoretical and empirical approaches in microeconomics.
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.
Analyse and contrast the economic behaviour of individual consumers and firms in different institutional environments.
2.
Analyse and critically evaluate policies that affect the behaviour of individuals and market outcomes.
3.
Communicate and present economic reasoning, knowledge and ideas.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
BEA200
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:
Test 1
Week 6
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Test 2
Week 11
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Assignment
Week 13
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Test 1
Task Description:
The test will comprise multi-part questions. The test will be based on the materials from Week 1 and Week 5.

Task Length:
90 minutes
Due Date:
Week 6
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Construct, describe and manipulate microeconomic models.
LO1
2
Apply the concepts in microeconomics to analyse the behaviour of consumers and firms.
LO1
3
Use the principles of microeconomics to critically evaluate policy issues.
LO2
4
Apply economic reasoning to inform policy debates.
LO2
5
Report on and defend the presented argument in a written form.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Test 2
Task Description:
The test will comprise multi-part questions. The test will be based on the materials from Week 6 and Week 10

Task Length:
90 minutes
Due Date:
Week 11
Weight:
30 %
 

 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Construct, describe and manipulate microeconomic models.
LO1
2
Apply the concepts in microeconomics to analyse the behaviour of consumers and firms.
LO1
3
Use the principles of microeconomics to critically evaluate policy issues.
LO2
4
Apply economic reasoning to inform policy debates.
LO2
5
Report on and defend the presented argument in a written form.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Assignment
Task Description:
This assignment is designed to develop your ability to apply skills of sound economic reasoning to applied economic issues. It will also develop your ability to communicate and present economic arguments and analysis clearly in written form.

Task Length:
TBA
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Construct, describe and manipulate microeconomic models.
LO1
2
Apply the concepts in microeconomics to analyse the behaviour of consumers and firms.
LO1
3
Use the principles of microeconomics to critically evaluate policy issues.
LO2
4
Apply economic reasoning to inform policy debates.
LO2
5
Report on and defend the presented argument in a written form.
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
There is no prescribed text for this unit.
 
Recommended reading materials
Students find it useful to consult alternative references as part of their study program. Some useful references are:
  • Nicholson and Snyder, Microeconomic Theory: Basic Principles and Extensions (12th Edition), Cengage Learning, 2016. ISBN 9781305505797.
  • Perloff, Microeconomics (8th edition), Pearson, 2018. ISBN 9781292215624.
  • Angrist and Pischke, Mostly Harmless Econometrics, Princeton University Press, 2009. ISBE 9780691120355.
  • Cameron and Trivedi, Microeconometrics: Methods and Applications, Cambridge University Press, 2005, ISBN 9780521848053.
 
Other required resources
Students must ensure that they have access to the following equipment and software:
• Computer with Internet access and Internet Browser compatible to UTAS’s MyLO.
• Software capable of estimating multiple regression such as MS Excel, EViews, R is required to complete the assignment and workshop exercises. In addition Word processing software is required to complete the assignment.