POLICY 743 : Economics, Budgets and Bureaucrats

Arts

2024 Semester One (1243) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Applies key concepts and tools of economic analysis to contemporary policy problems. Focuses on the allocation of the economy’s resources, the budget process and the role of public finance agencies, rationales for government intervention in a market economy, and the impact of expenditure and taxation on the economy and citizens’ wellbeing.

Course Overview

The course focuses on the allocation of the economy’s resources, the budget process and the roles of different public finance agencies, rationales for government intervention in the market economy, and the impact of expenditure and taxation on the economy and citizens’ wellbeing.

Course Requirements

Restriction: POLICY 702

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Graduate Profile: Master of Public Policy

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Have a deep understanding of the government’s budget process and the roles of the key agencies involved in the management of the economy (Capability 1 and 3)
  2. Use concepts and techniques of economics to analyse and solve policy problems (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  3. Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of the economic framework as it applies to collective decision-making (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Distinguish between normative and positive economics (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  5. Identify the sources of market failure, and the potential ways in which governments respond to these (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 5)
  6. Understand and analyse the structure of the macroeconomic system and macroeconomic policy outcomes (Capability 1, 2 and 3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Discussions 10% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 20% Individual Test
Essay 1 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 2 40% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30-point course, and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in (over a 12-week period).

For this course, you can expect approximately 30 hours equivalent of online lecture materials and text to read and engage with, 30 hours of online activities to complete, 60 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 120 hours of work on assignments and other graded assessments.

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance can be undertaken at any time each week as the content of this course is designed to be delivered asynchronously. There are online activities to complete in the course.

The course will sometimes include live online events including drop-in sessions and these will be recorded.

Attendance on campus is not required for any activities or assessments.

Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement but will otherwise be released progressively throughout the course.

This course runs to the University Auckland Online semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

This course is available for delivery to students studying remotely outside New Zealand in 2024.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Throughout the course, the eBook we use each week is:
Frank, R., Bernanke, Ben, Antonovics, Kate L., & Heffetz, Ori. (2019). Principles of economics. (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Supplementary readings will also be added that will be either in digitised form or online via the library catalogue.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional policy applications, case studies and interactive resources are added to the weekly materials to enhance student interactions and increase engagement.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 06/11/2023 04:10 p.m.