Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

Applied Economics Honours Research Project
Students will be required to undertake a substantial research
project in an area of applied economics. No specific topic is
prescribed, rather, students will be encouraged to formulate
their own problems and hypothesis. Potential areas for
research will reflect expertise within the department which
could include international trade and finance, industrial
relations, financial institutions and monetary policy and
public finance, including the economics of the environment
and social issues. Students will be required to make class
presentations at progressive stages in their research. The
research project will be presented in the form of a written
dissertation of approximately 15,000 words in length.
Students intending to complete their degree with honours
must apply for entry Into the honours year by the end of
the~r three-year degree
Note that entry into the honours year is competitive and the
number of places is subject to a quota.
BE401 Economics for Business
No. of hours per week: two and a quarter hours
Prerequisites: nil
Instruction: class
Assessment: assignment/exam
A major unit in the Graduate Certificate in Business
Administration.
Subject aims
To assist students to better interpret, analyse and evaluate
economic news items. To actively involve students in the
understanding and appreciation of economic issues and
policies. To give students a better knowledge of the
Australian and international economic environment for
business. To provide students with a systematic framework to
understand and appreciate current economic issues.
Subject description
The unit consists of twelve two and a quarter hour sessions.
These sessions will be divided roughly into a one and a half
hour general content based, lecture led, informal discussion
session pertaining to a specific course topic and a forty-five
minute tutorial. Candidates will be introduced to basic
economic concepts applied to the Australian economy,
illustrated with items by applying the course content and are
welcome to bring relevant articles for discussion. In the
tutorial section, time will be allocated for syndicates to work
on solving specific problems.
Textbooks
Freebairn, M.L. et al. Introduction to Australian Macroeconomics.
Citadel Press, 1993
This text covers the lecture content for the coune. Students should
read each topic prior to the relevant session. Available Swinburne
Bookshop: $26
References
A comprehensive list of important references will be provided
BE501 Economics
No prior knowledge of economics is assumed. Applicants
who have majored in economics at a tertiary level are
advised to enrol for another postgraduate diploma subject.
Applicants who have studied economics at secondary level or
who finished their course some time ago are enrolled in this
subject.
The first half of the course is concerned with industry
economics, covering in particular market structure, conduct
and performance issues.
In the second half of the course consideration is given to
the factors that determine the general level of economic
activity and those economic concepts and methods of
analysis that bear directly on the management of a firm
The topics to be covered are drawn from: markets, resource
allocation, efficiency and demand; production and costs;
pricing and profit; industry economics including public policy
aspects; aggregate demand and supply analysis; money and
economic activity; employment and unemployment; inflation;
monetary, fiscal, balance of payments and priceslincomes
policies.
References
Caves, R. et al. Australian Industry: Structure, Conduct, Performance.
2nd ed. Sydney: Prentice-Hall. 1987
Indecs. State of Play 7. Sydney: Allen and Unwin. 1992
Pappas. J. and Hirschey, M. Fundamentals of Managerial Economics
3rd ed, Fortworth, Texas: Dryden Press, 1989
Waud, R.N., Hocking, A,. Maxwell, t? and Bonnici, 1. Economics. 2nd
Australian ed. Sydney: Harper and Row. 1992
A detailed reading guide will be issued at the start of the semester
BE503 Financial Instruments and Markets
(Graduate Diploma in Corporate
Finance)
No. of hours per week: two hours
Prerequisite: nil
Instruction: lecture/discussions
Assessment: assignments/essayslexaminationl
multiple choice tests
Subject aims
To provide students with:
an understanding of the structure, functioning and
dwelowment of Australian financial instruments and
an understanding of financial instruments and their uses
in the financial market;
the process and implications of deregulation for
monetary authorities and participants in the market.
Subject description
Financial markets and instruments
nature and role of financial intermediation
growth and description of Australian financial
intermediaries
impact of deregulation on the financial environment and
on Reserve Bank of Australia's role and policies.
Market issues
Australian debt markets
Australian equity markets
monetary policy in a deregulated market.
References
Bruce, R., McKern, 0. and Pollard, I., (eds) Handbook of Australian
Corporate Finance. 4th ed, Sydney: Butterworths, 1991
Carew, E. Fast Money 3 - The Financial Market in Australia. Sydney:
Allen and Unwin, 1991
Lewis, M.K. and Wallace, R.H. (eds.) Australia's Financial Institutions
and Markets. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire, 1985
Moore, D. et a/. Financial Institutions and Markets. 2nd ed.,
Warnberal: Serendip, 1990
Reserve Bank of Australia. The Deregulation of Financial
Intermediaries. 1 991
BE504
The Nature and Characteristics of
Markets
No. of hours per week: two hours
Prerequisites: nil
Instruction: one class
Assessment: assignments 50%, final examination
50%