Enrolments for 2018 have closed.
The Digital Economy
Postgraduate | CUR-MIC506 | 2018
Course information for 2018 intake
View information for 2019 course intakeTally up capitalism’s impact on the commercial aspects of cyberspace. See how online commerce works through your studies of Amazon, Google, eBay and Facebook. Explore forms of internet currency such as the attention and gift economies.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
FEE-HELP available
The Digital Economy
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- demonstrate understanding of the principles and practices which sustain Internet commerce
- analyse specific commercial events and occurrences to explain the nature of Internet economics
- demonstrate understanding of the way in which capitalism dominates the social and technological workings of the Internet in global society
- assess critically the culture and practices of 'free' online labour, goods and services associated with Internet
- Overview, Getting Started, Introduction, Unit Schedule
- A1 Instructions, and Internet Business Basics
- Network, Attention, and Sharing Economies
- Case studies
- A2 & 3 Instructions, and Online Collaboration
- A4 Instructions, Digital Capitalism
- Free Economy
- Gift Economy
- Revise concepts and readings from throughout the unit
To be an Internet user is, essentially, to be part of the economics of the Internet, through innumerable commercial transactions and by being part of audiences sold for advertising. In this subject, you will come to understand the dynamics of Internet commence, including the 'free' services that are part of the attention economy; you will also analyse the importance for the Internet of an alternative economic forms, for instance - the gift economy. Ultimately, you will understand how the Internet might, within capitalism, be associated with economic rewards and risks; and how developments on the Internet have altered business practices and approaches.
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.
- Project Plan (20%)
- Team Report (40%)
- Essay (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.