How do Societies and Economies Interact? Competing Approaches in Political Economy
UndergraduateLTU-POL2PPE2025
Enrol today with instant approval and no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 28 July 2025
- Price from
- $2,124
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
How do Societies and Economies Interact? Competing Approaches in Political Economy
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand the major schools of contemporary political economy with an appreciation of the social problems to which each school responded, and the strengths and weaknesses of each school.
- Apply the approach of a particular school to understand a particular event, issue or public policy challenge.
- Demonstrate an awareness of how political economy is related to politics, philosophy and economics.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how different theories of the economy can inform public policy.
- Why History Matters
- How Economists Tackle Political and Social Problems
- Trends in Production and Consumption
- City and Rural Economies
- Land, Labour, Capital, and the State
- Well-being Through State Governance
- Economic Policy for Today's Challenges
Why are only some people gainfully employed, with others unable to secure the work they need? Why are governments unable to agree on solutions to problems like climate change? Why does most economic activity take place in cities, rather than rural areas? This subject explores how economies and societies interact. Taught through a historical perspective (which identifies the key social and political problems of a particular period), you will be introduced to ideas central to classical, neoclassical, institutional and Marxian political economy, Keynesian and post-Keynesian analysis, nudge or behavioural economics, along with feminist and ecological approaches. You will compare different theories about the role of labour, capital, commodities, and ideas, along with competing views of state intervention. Without assuming any prior understanding of economics, the subject will help you analyse a variety of policy challenges. Students from regional campuses can take this subject online, with the option of a face-to-face seminar at the Bundoora campus. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of PPE or Law/PPE should choose the face-to-face seminar.
- Class activities (equivalent to 1,750 words). This includes a mixture of quizzes and argumentative activities (for which feedback is provided). A portion of these will be completed before census. (45%)
- Research essay (2,750 words) An argumentative essay that requires additional student-led research. (55%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
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