ECX2800 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
Faculty of Business and Economics
ECX2800 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ECX2800
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After ECX2800
No unit lists ECX2800 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit seeks to answer the question, ‘what drives sustainable economic prosperity?’ To answer, the unit begins with prominent economic theorising around channels of economic prosperity, including the role of technology, specialisation, capital accumulation, coordination and complexity. Next, we look at where prosperity has chronically failed to arrive, critically examining the successes and failures of major interventions that were aimed at alleviating poverty. Finally, we turn our attention to the complexity of human economic prosperity on a finite planet through the lens of the Anthropocene. Overall, the unit takes a complex systems and sustainability mindset to these topics and seeks to equip you with deep critical thinking frameworks to comprehend complexity and understand key linkages in the pursuit of sustainable prosperity for all.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Blended |
Assessment
- Portfolio15%
- Written35%
- Examination50%
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
apply modern sustainability thinking to the idea of economic prosperity
- 2
identify sources of connectedness in a complex economy-society-planet system through an economic lens
- 3
analyse dynamic models and frameworks of economic prosperity and poverty alleviation
- 4
critically assess prominent economic policies that address at least one major environmental externality facing the planet
- 5
develop critical and creative thinking, writing and reviewing skills.
Workload and teaching
- Applied sessions12 hours
- Workshops24 hours
- Tutorials12 hours
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based 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 allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.
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.
Where it fits
ECX2800 is part of 6 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- ECONOMIC07Energy, environment and sustainabilityEconomicsNo reviews yet
- ECBUSSTR05International economicsEconomics and business strategyNo reviews yet
- ECONPOLY01Cluster 1: SustainabilityEconomics and economic policyNo reviews yet
- ENVIRENG03Environmental engineering technical electivesEnvironmental engineeringNo reviews yet
- SSRSPMGT01Core unitsSustainability and responsible managementNo reviews yet
- SSRSPMGT02Caulfield and Clayton unitsSustainability and responsible managementNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Ricardo Dahis
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ECX2800?
ECX2800 has no prerequisites.
When is ECX2800 offered?
In 2026, ECX2800 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ECX2800?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ECX2800 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include ECX2800?
ECX2800 is part of Economics; Economics and business strategy; Economics and economic policy; Environmental engineering; and Sustainability and responsible management.