ECON5006: Semester 1, 2022

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Units ECON5006 Semester 1 2022 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

ECON5006: Economics of Law and Public Policy

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

This unit of study introduces tools to study the impact of laws and public policy on individual behaviours. We will critically evaluate empirical research produced by economists, sociologists, criminologists, and legal scholars. Topics will focus on criminal justice policy but will also cover other areas of law such as labour and social policy.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	ECON5006
Academic unit	Economics
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	ECON5001 or ECON5040
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Marian Vidal-Fernandez, m.vidal-fdez@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Open book)	Final exam Final exam covering all topics	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation Participation in class (not only attendance)	5%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project idea presentation Recorded presentation or live meeting	10%	Week 09	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Based on your final project presentation.	15%	Week 13 Due date: 27 May 2022 at 15:00 Closing date: 27 May 2022	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project assignment Describe the research project incorporating the feedback received.	20%	Week 13	500-600 words
Outcomes assessed:
= Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

Recorded or live presentation

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (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 sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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.

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	Empirical Methods: Regressions and Randomization	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Empirical Methods: Regressions and Randomization	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Empirical Methods: Instrumental Variables	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Empirical Methods: Instrumental Variables	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Empirical Methods: Regression Discontinuity	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Empirical Methods: Regression Discontinuity	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Differences-in-differences	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Empirical Methods: Difference in Differences	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Submit a recorded presentation or schedule a meeting to present. No class due to ANZAC Day.	Project (3 hr)
Week 10	Empirical Methods: Fixed Effects	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Individual Presentations	Presentation (3 hr)
Week 12	Individual Presentations	Presentation (3 hr)
Week 13	Individual Presentations	Presentation (3 hr)

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: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, 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

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library link available on Canvas.

Joshua D. Angrist and Jorn-Steffen Pischke, Mastering ‘Metrics: The Path from Cause to Effect, Princeton University Press, 2014
Khandker, Shahidur, Gayatri Koolwal and Hussain Samad, Handbook on Impact Evaluation: Quantitative Methods and Practices, Washington, DC: World Bank, 2010

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. apply economic concepts to examine real world problems from both an individual's and policymaker's perspective
LO2. critically evaluate the assumptions and limitations of the empirical methods and arguments presented in class
LO3. develop written and oral communication skills, specifically improving expository writing while describing research results
LO4. employ technologies effectively in gathering information from written, oral, and electronic sources
LO5. develop written communication skills
LO6. acquire the ability to manage, analyse, evaluate and use information efficiently and effectively
LO7. critically evaluate academic research measuring the association between policy or law changes and various outcomes
LO8. assist in the development and implementation of evidence-based policy
LO9. plan, write and present a policy evaluation
LO10. participate effectively in classroom discussions.

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.

In response to student feedback, more opportunities for feedback and interaction have been included in the assessments.

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

Attendance and class requirements

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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