52674 Global Economies
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): (8 credit points of completed study in spk(s): MAJ10049 Social and Political Sciences Major OR 12 credit points of completed study in spk(s): MAJ09476 48cp Social and Political Sciences Major)) OR ((48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10446 Bachelor of Criminology OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10447 Bachelor of Criminology Bachelor of International Studies OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10448 Bachelor of Criminology Bachelor of Forensic Science OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10472 Bachelor of Criminology Bachelor of Cybersecurity OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10478 Bachelor of Psychology Bachelor of Criminology)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 54052 Economy, Society and Globalism
Description
Global markets, corporations, and institutions structure the world and shape our everyday lives. A critical understanding of how internationally connected economies work is essential to engage with social and political issues that arise in various industries and policy environments. Students use concepts and case studies to understand economic activity, without any need for a background in economics or mathematics. The subject examines government policy making, corporate power, labour rights, poverty and wealth, resource depletion, and other topics. Students research a world-spanning supply chain of an everyday commodity (such as coffee, fast fashion, bottled water, or coal), exploring the varied international and national contexts impacting on production and distribution. Students develop introductory skills in data analysis by taking part in online data labs, through which they identify high-quality data sources and question the extent to which statistical claims can be trusted.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Explain concepts, terms and debates in political economy, and critically analyse their deployment within contemporary processes of social and political change. |
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| b. | Design, manage and complete self-directed research, including the production of a professional research report. |
| c. | Collate and analyse evidence critically in relation to concepts introduced in the subject. |
| d. | Develop policy recommendations based on evidence and ethical frameworks, arrived at through reflexive dialogue with others. |
| e. | Develop and employ introductory skills in data analysis. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
- Act in a professional manner appropriate to communication industries (1.1)
- Apply theoretically informed understandings of communication industries to independent and collaborative projects across a range of media (1.2)
- Employ appropriate research and inquiry skills to independently gather, organise and analyse information across diverse platforms (2.1)
- Act as reflexive critical thinkers and innovative creative practitioners who evaluate their own and others' work (2.2)
- Demonstrate a strong awareness, knowledge of, and sensitivity to, diversity, equity and global contexts (3.1)
- Analyse and act ethically in the personal, political and professional contexts of civil society (5.1)
- Exemplify effective and appropriate communication in different communication industry contexts (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject includes both synchronous (face to face or online) tutorials and asynchronous activities. Student learning and investigation follow a structured set of activities to facilitate knowledge consolidation and research skill development each week.
Prior to class students engage in independent activities supported by online resources. Students read course material, and listen/watch recorded lectures before tutorials, which build on this knowledge. Online quizzes in weeks 2-6 provide formative feedback on students’ understanding of key concepts and terminology, including prior to the census date. Lectures may also be synchronous, where you can interact with teaching staff and fellow students, and ask and respond to questions.
Tutorials incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including short presentations, videos, small group discussion of readings and case studies. Tutorials and assignments provide opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge through critical analysis, self-directed inquiry, library and digital research, and through peer and tutor feedback. Tutorials and self-directed learning enhance students’ capacity to apply their knowledge, and develop professional skills in communication, project management and report writing. In weeks 7 and 8 students complete data labs, building basic skills in preparing and analysing statistics.
The research report is an authentic assessment providing the opportunity to develop skills for the professional workplace, and to communicate in public debates and global civil society.
Content (topics)
Students develop literacy and familiarity with the economic terms and concepts deployed in international policy debates, and the key political economy challenges facing the global community. Students investigate global interconnectedness through research into commodity chains and the social structures and organisations that shape them: markets, states, corporations, social movements, civil society organisations, and global governance institutions. They compare the different approaches to economic analysis, including those taken by standard economists, Marxists, Keynesian social democrats, and neoliberals. Students develop introductory skills in data analysis, including considering how quantitative evidence is deployed by those contesting and intervening in processes of global social change.
The subject comprises three modules:
Economics as a Social Science
Statistical Data and Interpretation
Global Economic Challenges
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Commodity Report Proposal
| Objective(s): | a, b, c and e | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Weight: | 15% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 750 words | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Mid semester test
| Objective(s): | a and c | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 35% | ||||||||||||
| Length: | 1 hour | ||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Stakeholder Report
| Objective(s): | a, b, d and e | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 2000 words | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Attendance at classes is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor to build capacities towards meeting the subject learning objectives. A roll will be taken at each class (whether on campus or online). Students who have more than two absences from class will be refused marking of their final assessment (see Rule 3.8).