MAE304 - Labour and Health Economics
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Ha Vu |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Recommended: | MAE201 or MAE202 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2 hour on-campus lecture (recordings provided) and 1 x 1 hour on-campus seminar (recordings provided) each week. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 2 hour recorded lecture each week and 1 x 1 hour online seminar in weeks 4, 7 and 10. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the trimester undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit focuses on the application of microeconomic theories and analytical tools to understand the economics of labour and health, two key interrelated aspects of human resources. For labour economics, we investigate the labour force as an element of production process. Firstly, we examine the supply of labour where we consider factors that determine whether a particular person works and, if so, how many hours she chooses to work.Next, we will investigate the demand for labour, where we focus on the interplay between the production function by business firms and the level of wages in the economy. Subsequently, we put the labour supply and demand together to illustrate the determination of equilibrium wages. Using the labour supply-demand model, we can investigate the impact of immigration flows or the shocks to immigration flows (resulted from Covid-19 pandemics for example) on the wages earned by native workers. Finally, using Becker’s human capital model, we investigate the factors that affect the level of education and training that individuals choose.
For health economics, we first discuss the key features of the health economy, and the use of cost-benefits in evaluating health policies and interventions including Covid-19’s lock-down measures. Next, we examine the factors that influence health, appreciating the fact that healthcare is only one contributing factor. We then explore the production of healthcare, focusing on the substitution between health input factors, health insurance and technology. The Grossman’s demand for health capital model, a model that is related to the Becker’s human capital but emphasises health as a distinct form of human capital, is also investigated. Finally, we analyse the Australia’s health care systems and the statistics related to Australia’s health since the onset of Covid-19 pandemics.
The unit equips students with methods necessary to analyse emerging policy issues related to labour markets and the health economies, which are crucial for their future career.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Apply the theoretical frameworks underlying labour and health economics. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Discuss the impacts of institutional factors on labour market outcomes. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge |
| ULO3 | Critically analyse emerging policy issues pertaining to the labour market and population health. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Communicate ideas and important economic concepts. | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
Trimester 1:| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: (Individual) Essay | 1200 words | 20% | Week 6 |
| Assessment 2: (Individual) Problem Based Written Assignment | 1200 words | 30% | Week 9 |
| End-of-unit assessment task: Written | 2000 words | 50% | End-of-unit assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Hurdle requirement
Hurdle requirement: Achieve at least 50% of the marks available on the end-of-unit assessment task to evidence a minimum proficiency in the aligned discipline learning outcomes included in this unit.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for MAE304 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.