Economics Unit 3: Australia's Living Standards

Prerequisites

Students are advised to complete Units 1 and 2 before undertaking Unit 3.

Course Description

Students contemplating a tertiary course in commerce or business should note that courses may require students to undertake some study in economics. Prior experience of economics at secondary school can be an advantage.

The Australian economy is constantly evolving. The main instrument for allocating resources is the market, but government also plays a significant role in resource allocation. In this unit students investigate the role of the market in allocating resources and examine the factors that affect the price and quantity traded for a range of goods and services. Students develop an understanding of the key measures of efficiency and how market systems might result in efficient outcomes. Students consider contemporary issues to explain the need for government intervention in markets and why markets might fail to maximise society’s living standards. As part of a balanced examination, students also consider unintended consequences of government intervention in the market.

Students develop an understanding of the macroeconomy. They investigate the factors that affect the level of aggregate demand and aggregate supply in the economy and apply theories to explain how changes in these variables might affect achievement of domestic macroeconomic goals and living standards. Students assess the extent to which the Australian economy has achieved these macroeconomic goals during the past two years.

Australia’s living standards depend, in part, on strong economic relationships with its major trading partners. Students investigate the importance of international economic relationships and the effect of these on Australian living standards. Students analyse how international transactions are recorded, and examine how economic factors might affect the value of the exchange rate, the terms of trade and Australia’s international competitiveness. Students also analyse how changes in the value of the exchange rate, the terms of trade and international competitiveness affect the domestic macroeconomic goals.

Areas of Study

An introduction to micro-economics: the market system, resource allocation and government intervention

In this area of study students investigate the role of the market in addressing the key economic questions of what and how much to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce. Students consider the effects of decisions made by consumers and businesses on what goods and services are produced, the quantities in which they are produced, the way they are produced and to whom they are distributed. Students investigate the key factors that affect the level of demand and supply in markets and how these might lead to changing prices, as well as the movement of land, labour and capital resources to those areas of production that generate the most value for society. Students use models to make predictions and consider the role of markets in achieving economic efficiency. They discuss instances where the market fails to allocate resources efficiently and evaluate whether government intervention leads to a more efficient allocation of resources in terms of maximising society’s living standards.

Domestic macro-economic goals

In this area of study students investigate Australia’s domestic macroeconomic goals supporting living standards, including strong and sustainable economic growth, full employment and low and stable inflation (price stability). Using the five-sector circular flow model of the macroeconomy, students consider the role of key economic agents and examine the factors that affect the business cycle. Students examine how each of the goals is measured and the potential consequences associated with the level of achievement of each goal. Students identify and analyse contemporary aggregate demand and aggregate supply factors that may have influenced the level of achievement of domestic macroeconomic goals over the past two years and consider how the level of achievement of the goals may affect living standards.

Australia and the international economy

Australia is an open economy. Students examine the reasons for international trade, such as the exchange of goods and services and the movement of savings and investment capital, and how these transactions might affect living standards. Students describe how international transactions are recorded. Students analyse the effects of movements in the exchange rate, the terms of trade and changes in international competitiveness on the achievement of the domestic macroeconomic goals and living standards.

Assessment

Outcomes	Assessment Tasks	Marks Allocated
Outcomes	(school-assessed coursework)	Marks Allocated
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse how markets operate to allocate resources and evaluate the role of markets and government intervention in achieving efficient outcomes.	Folio of exercises or essay or test or report.	35
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse key contemporary factors that may have affected domestic macroeconomic goals over the past two years, evaluate the extent to which the goals have been achieved and discuss the effects on living standards.	Folio of exercises or essay or test or report.	40
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse the factors that may affect the exchange rate, terms of trade and Australia’s international competitiveness, and discuss their impact on Australia’s international transactions and the achievement of the domestic macroeconomic goals and living standards.	Folio of exercises or essay or test or report.	25
Total Marks		100

Overall Final Assessment

Graded Assessment	Title	Assessment	Exam Duration	Contribution to Study Score (%)
1	Unit 3 Coursework	School-assessed		25
2	Unit 4 Coursework	School-assessed		25
3	Written Examination	November	2 hours	50