Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

BE227 Environmental Economics
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisite: BE1 10 Microeconomics
Instruction: one class
Assessment: examinationlassignment
Subject aims and description
The aim of this unit is to familiarise students with the
economic techniques that can be applied to the problems of
environmental and natural resource management.
Topics include: the costs and benefits of environmental
regulation; the environmental impact of poverty and
economic growth; the need for sustainable development; the
population problem; the importance of property rights; the
management of depletable and renewable natural resources;
and the economics of pollution control.
Tentboo k
Tietenberg, T. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics 3rd
ed, N.Y.: Harper Collins, 1992
References
Pearce. D.W. and Turner, R.K. Economics of Natural Resources and the
Environment. Hempel Hempstead, Herts, U.K.: Hatvester Wheatsheaf,
1990
Wallace. N. (4.) Nahlral Resou~e Management: An Economic
Perspeaive. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource
Economics, 1992
BE331 Public Finance
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: BE1 10 Microeconomics and BE220
Macroeconomics
Instruction: one class
Assessment: examination/assignment
fi Subject aims and description
This unit involves an analysis of the economic rationale of
government expenditure and revenue raising. A will cmr the
following topics:
, an introduction to the welfare economics and public
3
choice paradigms and their implications for public sector
2
(n revenue and expenditure;
taxation analysis; criteria for evaluating taxes and
commonwealth and state tax systems; analysis of
personal and corporate income tax consumption and
capital gains and wealth taxes; subsidies to producers
and consumers; taxes on the factors of production and
proposals for reform of the Australian tax system;
techniques for evaluating government expenditure
programs (with particular emphasis on cost-benefit
analysis).
References
Brown, C.V. and Jackson, P.M. Public Sector Economics 3rd ed,
Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1986
Groenewegen. P. Public Finance in Austmlia, Theory and Practice. 3rd
ed, Sydney: Prentice-Hall, 1990
Musgraw, R.A. and Musgraw, RB. Public Finance in Theory and
Practice. 5th ed, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1989
BE332 Economic Research
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: BE1 10 Microeconomics and BE220
Macroeconomics
Instruction: one class
Assessment: examinationlassignments
Subject aims and description
The intention in this unit is to broaden students' familiarity
with the nature and scope of research undertaken in
economics, and to increase students' ability to analyse and
carry out economic research of a practical nature.
Topics may include: methodology in economic research; data
sources; collection, analysis and presentation of data;
selected topics in applied economic research (economic
model building, cost-benefit analysis, industry studies,
aspects of industrial relations).
An integral part of this unit is a major research project.
Students are expected to conduct an investigation and write
a report on their research which will constitute a major
proportion of the assessment in this unit.
References
There is no single prescribed reference for this course. but extensive
use is made of current journal articles
BE333 Financial Institutions and Monetary
Policy
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: BE1 10 Microeconomics and BE220
Macroeconomics
Instruction: lecturelrutorial
Assessment: examinationlassignment, multiple
choice test
Subject aims
To provide students with:
an upto-date view of Australian financial
intenediatories; their nature and operation in a
changing business environment;
an appreciation and understanding of the application of
monetary policy; its origins and current controversies.
This course includes:
a study of Australian financial intermediaries;
the process of deregulation and its impacts on financial
intermediaries and Reserve Bank policies;
the role of the Reserve Bank as a prudential supervisor
and as a regulator of economic instability;
the development of monetary policy, current monetary
policy controversies and the application and operation of
monetary policy.
Textbooks
To be advised
References
Bruce, R. Handbook of Australian Corporare Finance. 4th ed, Sydney:
Buttelworths, 1991
Juettner, D.J. and Valentine, T. (eds) The Economics and Management
of Financial Institutions. Melbourne: Longrnan Cheshire, 1987
Mishkin, F. The Economics of Money Banking and Financial Markets.
3rd ed, New York: Harper Collins, 1992
MacFarlane, I., ed., The Deregulation of Financial Inremediaries: fie
Proieedings of a Conference. Research Department, Reserve Bank of
Australia, 1991
The Reserve Bank Bulletin - recent issues
BE334 International Trade
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: BE1 10 Microeconomics and BE220
Macroeconomics
Instruction: lecturelrutorial
Assessment: examinationlaaignment
Subject aims and description
To encourage students to recognise the importance of
international trade to the Australian economy and to equip
students to appreciate and evaluate the ways in which
government and business can improve Australia's international
trade performance.
The subject combines an examination of the nature of
economic theory relating to international trade, trade