UnitLevel 3Undergraduate

ECF3120 Consumer economics

Faculty of Business and Economics

ECF3120 Consumer economics is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics. It isn't offered in 2024. It needs ECW2731, ECF2731, ECB2731 or ECC2000.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2024
Not offered
Assessment
Exam 50%
and 1 other task
Workload
144 hours
per semester

This is the 2024 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

After ECF3120

No unit lists ECF3120 as a prerequisite in the 2024 handbook.

Enrolment rules

To be successful in this unit, background knowledge and application of maths is required at the equivalent of VCE Year 12 Higher level.  You may have satisfied this by completing relevant prerequisite unit/s, or you have covered relevant topics in your final years of secondary study.  You should self-assess your maths competency prior to enrolling in this unit.

Overview

This unit introduces economic principles underlying consumer choice and market demand; describing consumer preferences, indifference curves and budget constraints, with particular emphasis on the role of prices as conveyors of information. It introduces economic tools and concepts for the analyses of consumption choices over time, under uncertainty and/or with risk, and in markets with asymmetric information. Other topics include work-leisure choice, wage changes and the supply of labour, and the provision of public goods and environmental goods. An examination of observed economic and social outcomes from the point of view of various normative criteria completes the coverage.

Offerings in 2024

The 2024 handbook lists no offerings for ECF3120.

Assessment

  • Within semester assessment
    50%
  • Examination
    50%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    understand economic models of household consumption which explain the allocation of resources over a variety of goods

  2. 2

    understand the allocation of income between savings and consumption, and the allocation of expenditures over the life cycle

  3. 3

    analyse data on household expenditure patterns

  4. 4

    understand the role of government over consumer protection

  5. 5

    analyse the role and impact of e-commerce on the way consumers choose in the marketplace.

Workload and teaching

  • Seminars24 hours
  • Tutorials11 hours
  • Teaching approachActive learning
  • Teaching approachProblem-based learning
  • Teaching approachResearch activities

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.

This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities. 

This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.

This unit allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.

Where it fits

ECF3120 is part of 1 area of study in the 2024 handbook.

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for ECF3120?

You need ECW2731, ECF2731, ECB2731 or ECC2000 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.

When is ECF3120 offered?

ECF3120 has no offerings listed in the 2024 handbook.

How much work is ECF3120?

The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does ECF3120 have an exam?

Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.

Which majors and minors include ECF3120?

ECF3120 is part of Economics and business strategy.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
3
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Economics
Organisational unit
Department of Economics
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 4
Study abroad
Available