ECOS3997: Semester 2, 2025

Units ECOS3997 Semester 2 2025 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

ECOS3997: Interdisciplinary Impact in Economics

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit of study is concerned with the application of economic principles to problems in an interdisciplinary context. It builds on theoretical knowledge acquired in previous studies and introduces methods of applied economic analysis to real-world problems. Initially, a policy problem will be defined. Lectures will cover the nature of applied research, appropriate theoretical concepts, quantitative methods, and communication. Students will develop skills to communicate their knowledge gained in an interdisciplinary context.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Economics
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 level from one of the following subject areas: Economics; Econometrics; Financial Economics; Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Ellen Stuart, ellen.stuart@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Stephen Cheung, stephen.cheung@sydney.edu.au
	Arezou Zaresani, arezou.zaresani@sydney.edu.au
	Ellen Stuart, ellen.stuart@sydney.edu.au
	Melissa Song, melissa.song@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam ?	Final exam Paper-based exam	30%	Formal exam period	1 hour	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical, skills, or performance task or test	Writing in tutorials In-tutorial writing exercises	40%	Multiple weeks	2,500 words	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Media project Communicate economic concepts and ideas to a non-economics audience	30%	Week 13	1,000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment will be provided 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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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 University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 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. 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

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Tutorial 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Tutorial 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Tutorial 3	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Tutorial 4	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Tutorial 5	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Tutorial 6	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Tutorial 7	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Tutorial 8	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Tutorial 9	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Stream-specific content	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Tutorial 10	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Tutorial 11	Tutorial (1 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.
Tutorial attendance: Students must attend their assigned Lecture and Tutorial in their timetable. Each tutorial group is tied to the relevant lecture stream, so attending the correct tutorial is imperative.
Minimum assessment items: In addition to the media project and final exam, students at a minimum must complete three of the in-tutorial writing exercises. Failure to complete at least three of the in-tutorial writing exercises will result in referral to the examiner's board for violating the FASS Attendance Policy. This may result in anything from an alternative assessment to receiving a result of AF (Absent Fail) for the unit.
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

Stream-specific additional 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. Apply economic principles to problems in an interdisciplinary context.
LO2. Critically review relevant literature.
LO3. Understand appropriate quantitative and analytical techniques to generate and interpret results for interdisciplinary research problems.
LO4. Demonstrate an understanding of insights provided by economics as they apply to real-world problems in an interdisciplinary context.
LO5. Communicate research in an interdisciplinary audience.
LO6. Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and implications of assumptions and value judgements involved in interdisciplinary research.

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.

Student feedback on the structure of lectures, order and content of topics has been valuable for the improvement of this unit. Please provide feedback to help future students.

Additional information

School of Economics Student Portal

The streams available in Semester 2, 2025 are:

Data Literacy (Stream 1): Empirical economics requires thoughtful and careful handling of data. Different sources of data have various strengths and weaknesses, and different options for how to 'clean' data for analysis can fundamentally impact the results. In this stream, we will take a high-level view of how data is used in empirical microeconomics. We will start with a motivating research question coming out of public economics. We will then discuss data: What is data? How should we process data? What are best practices in data visualisation? These lectures will not be technical but will instead emphasise deeper thinking about seemingly simple topics. Finally, we will discuss different techniques that are used to credibly estimate causality—does X cause Y? The first half of each of these final lectures will cover the intuition behind a given technique. In the second half, we will discuss a research paper in economics that tries to answer our motivating research question using that technique.

Behavioural Economics of Gambling (Stream 2): Behavioural economics is concerned with describing and understanding how, when, and why economic decision-making deviates systematically from the optimal predictions of standard economic theory. It also applies findings from economics, psychology, and the behavioural sciences more broadly to the design of public policies intended to influence (or 'nudge') choice behaviour without resorting to coercion or relying solely on incentives. In this stream, you will study key concepts of behavioural economics, with a focus on their application to the issues of gambling and problem gambling. Key themes in this stream will include Prospect Theory, distorted perceptions of probability and randomness, and self-control problems. (Please note that, if you find the topics of gambling and/or addiction to be upsetting or objectionable for any reason, then you may wish to enrol in another stream.)

Topics in Family Economics (Stream 3): Family economics is the application of the analytical methods of microeconomics to family behaviour. Topics in family economics will introduce you to the key theories offering insights into family behaviour - resource allocation and the distribution of welfare within the family, investment in children, family formation and dissolution. It is fascinating to see how the life-choices we make regarding relationships or childrearing might be linked to our wages, labour supply decisions or to the education and health outcomes of our children. Theories in family economics also help us understand social phenomenon such as domestic violence; and offer insights into how within-family decisions can have long-run welfare effects via aggregate economic outcomes such as growth and inequality. We will explore empirical evidence on the predictions of key theories, and policy applications (e.g., policies related to parental leave care or childcare subsidies).

Implications of Macroeconomic Policies (Stream 4): Macroeconomic policies are the tools and decisions employed by governments to shape economic outcomes, and they have significant implications on key macroeconomic variables. Understanding the implications of these policies is crucial for policymakers, economists, business professionals, and anyone interested in comprehending the dynamics of national and global economies. In this stream, we will delve into the basic theories, concepts, and real-world applications of government interventions and central bank actions, analysing their impacts, trade-offs, and challenges. At the end of the unit, students will use publicly available data sets to discuss how macroeconomic policies influence key economic indicators such as employment, inflation, income distribution, and economic growth.

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

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

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

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

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