University of Technology Sydney

21076 The Economic and Social Landscape

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 21393 The Business Environment
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject explores the changing global, national and local economic and institutional landscape that shapes socioeconomic and business opportunities for Indigenous and other Australians. It looks at Australia in the global economy; the global financial crisis and its aftermath; the changing Australian institutional structure, including financial and labour markets; international and national Indigenous enterprise development; corporate social responsibility; contemporary socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous and other Australians; urban and regional perspectives on the Indigenous economy, education and employment development.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. Describe the changing global, national and local economic and financial landscape that shapes socio-economic and business opportunities for Indigenous and other Australians
2. Explain the key economic concepts and critically analyse key economic policy debates
3. Explain how economic performance, institutions and policy impacts on social outcomes
4. Apply the theory and practice of corporate social responsibility to a specific issue/context

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The contribution of the course is to develop an understanding of the financial and economic system in Australia (its institutions and policy instruments) and the way that global and national economic developments and change shape the opportunities for Indigenous enterprises and impact on the economic and social opportunities of Indigenous Australians.

This subject contributes to developing the following graduate attribute(s):

  • Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
    Communication and collaboration
    Professional and technical competence

This subject also contributes specifically to develop the following Program Learning Objective(s):

  • Evaluate and apply principles of sustainability, ethical and social responsibility, and Indigenous values in a business environment (3.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject is presented in seminar format. Essential principles are presented and analysed and students are lead through practical application exercises.

Content (topics)

  • An introduction to the Australian economy
  • Financial markets and institutions in Australia
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • The global economic and Australian economic performance
  • Contemporary socio-economic indicators and outcomes
  • Economic policy debates

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Presentation (Individual)*

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1

Weight: 10%
Length:

10 minute video presentation (recording)
Criteria:

*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero.

Assessment task 2: Report (Group)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

4

Weight: 30%
Length:

Length up to 10 pages

Assessment task 3: Essay (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2, 3 and 4

Weight: 60%
Length:

Maximum: 2,000 words.

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.

Required texts

Textbook 1: Principles of Economics: Asia-Pacific Edition (2018) by Joshua Gans, Stephen King, and Robin Stonecash

This text is available online at the library

Click to access book here

Textbook 2: Environmental Economics - An Introduction (7th ed) by Field, C., and Field, P (2017)

This text is available for loan at the library

Lecture notes and readings: will be posted on Canvas prior to each Block Week.