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Unit of study_

ECON1006: The Economics of Everything

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

From online dating to criminal behaviour, economics is increasingly being used to analyse non-market issues. This unit provides insights on these issues using an economic perspective. An underlying premise of this analysis is that people respond to incentives created by rules and institutions, sometimes in perverse or unintended ways. This unit studies real-world cases, including food and obesity, crime and punishment, sports, discrimination, and the role of government in correcting market failures. The unit also considers the implications for traditional economic analysis if information is imperfect and people are not fully rational.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ECON1006
Academic unit Economics
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ranae Jabri, ranae.jabri@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
Multiple-choice, short-answer, and extended-response questions
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Online task Online Quiz
#earlyfeedbacktask
0% Week 03
Due date: 08 Mar 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 08 Mar 2024
Canvas Quiz
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Supervised test
? 
Mid-semester test
60-min test during lecture time in Week 8; short-answer, multiple-choice
30% Week 08
Due date: 16 Apr 2024 at 14:00
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment group assignment Group presentation + Peer review
10-minute video group presentation + reviewing 3 peer videos
20% Week 13
Due date: 20 May 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 20 May 2024
10-minute video
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

  • Group video presentation: Students will be asked to form groups of 4-6 to work together on this assessment. Specific details of the assessment task will be provided later in the semester.
  • Mid-semester test: Consists of multiple-choice and short-response questions.
  • Final exam: Consists of multiple-choice, short-response, and extended-response questions.
  • Early feedback task: Online multiple-choice quiz given in Week 3 to provide early feedback to students.
  • Practice Quizzes: Two online multiple-choice quizzes will be given in Weeks 7 and 12 to help students prepare for the exams. These optional quizzes will cover material on the required readings and slides for the previous topics. The quizzes will be posted on Canvas and will remain open until the final exam.

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.

Result name

Mark range

Description

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: Thought process of an economist Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Economics of Sports Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Economics of Discrimination Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Economics of Food Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Economics of Love Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Economics of Altruism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Economics of Crime Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 In-class Mid-semester test Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Economics of Environment Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Economics of Ethics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Economics of Healthcare Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Economics of Gambling Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Group presentations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: All lectures will be recorded and made available to students on Canvas. 
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, assignments, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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

Refer to the Canvas site and the Reading List for all the required readings in each topic.

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.

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

  • LO1. think like an economist
  • LO2. apply the economic way of thinking to all aspects of the world they live in
  • LO3. understand the consequences and implications of public policy discussions and debates
  • LO4. work productively, collaboratively, and openly in diverse groups and across cultural boundaries.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

This unit has been updated since it was last 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.