ECOS4201: Semester 2, 2023

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Units ECOS4201 Semester 2 2023 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

ECOS4201: Advanced Microeconomic Policy

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit covers topics in applied microeconomics for public policy. It will focus on a small number of major applied micro and behavioural economic theories such as incentives, discrimination and gift exchange, and apply these theories to examine empirical and experimental evidence in a large range of potential contexts from education and health to labour markets, volunteerism, charitable behaviour, finance and government policy. For each topic, students will be introduced to the traditional theoretical approach, followed by empirical and experimental evidence, and alternative academic perspectives. Students are challenged to develop their own perspectives towards policy implications.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Economics
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	ECOS3997 or ECMT3997 or ECON3999 or ECON3998
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Pablo Guillen Alvarez, pablo.guillen@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Pablo Guillen Alvarez, pablo.guillen@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Final report Final report	30%	Week 13 Due date: 05 Nov 2023 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation Weekly seminar participation	10%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Journal Weekly Canvas journal annotations	60%	Weekly	Throughout semester
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High Distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a Credit a good standard, and a Pass an acceptable
standard.

High distinction 85 - 100
Distinction 75 - 84
Credit 65 - 74
Pass 50 - 64
Fail 0 - 49 When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 02	From Applied Microeconomic Theory to Experimental Economics	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 03	The methods of Experimental Economics	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 04	Other-regarding preferences	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 05	Bounded rationality	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 06	Other topics on Behavioural Economics	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 07	Nudge and the Behavioural Insights Teams	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 08	Natural Experiments	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 09	From Applied Theory to Applied Microeconomics	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 10	Development Economics	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 11	Randomised Control Trials	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 12	Market Design I: matching markets	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 13	Market Design II: auctions	Seminar (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand how research in economics is performed, including the publication process and the referee report system
LO2. read an economics paper, including the ability to summarise the research and how to find strong and weak points and express them in a referee report
LO3. be familiar with the different streams of economic literature on microeconomic policy.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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