Postgraduate - UnitECX5470 - Competition, regulation and policy

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

Outline of the Australian and overseas approaches to competition policy; the economic background to the Trade Practices Act; market definition issues; evaluation of restrictive trade practices and mergers or alliances; structural reform of industries, access and monopoly regulation.

Outcomes

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

1. be able to understand and analyse critically the economic reasons for government intervention to reduce the adverse effects of restrictive trade practices
2. have an understanding of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (and its predecessor, the Trade Practices Commission)
3. be able to evaluate recent decisions from the perspectives of an economist, lawyer, policy-maker and business manager.
4. be able to research in-depth a current problem area relating to competition policy and practices that requires investigation beyond topics covered in lectures.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 30%
Examination (3 hours): 70%

Contact hours

3 hours per week

Prohibitions

ECC4700