ECF5040 Industry economics
Faculty of Business and Economics
ECF5040 Industry economics is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Caulfield. It needs ECF5927 or ECC5900.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Caulfield
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 4 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ECF5040
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After ECF5040
No unit lists ECF5040 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
If you are enrolled in course B3701, there is no prerequisite to undertake this unit.
Overview
The unit develops and examines the theoretical and empirical relationships between the structure of industries, the behaviour of enterprises and market performance. The fundamental principles are applied to the advanced analysis of various forms of firms' interaction: entry deterrence, collusion, product differentiation, advertising, research and development and pricing strategies. Welfare and policy issues will be discussed with the help of applied theory and empirical research. In this respect, recent journal articles and research reports will be used in analysing conceptual problems and related issues.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Caulfield | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Quiz / Test20%
- Exercise10%
- Written20%
- Demonstration10%
- Examination40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
demonstrate understanding of concepts and real-life applications in industrial organisation at the postgraduate level
- 2
apply an analytic framework to algebraically and graphically solve problems in industrial organisation
- 3
read journal articles and research papers and identify relevant theoretical concepts
- 4
analyse and discuss real-life cases, and use the results to draw conclusions and lessons for the companies involved in the cases.
Workload and teaching
- Applied sessions24 hours
- Workshops36 hours
- Assessments6 hours
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
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 includes case-based teaching, where you apply your knowledge and engage in analytical and reflective thinking to solve complex contextual scenarios. Activities are often designed so that there is not one clear answer, but you need to work together to examine, analyse and make decisions to resolve the situation.
This unit allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.
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 engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ECF5040 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Krisztina Orban
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ECF5040?
You need ECF5927 or ECC5900 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is ECF5040 offered?
In 2026, ECF5040 runs in Semester 1 at Caulfield.
How much work is ECF5040?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ECF5040 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include ECF5040?
ECF5040 is part of Business economics; Economics; and Economics and health.