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Study Economics at Otago

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Overview

Economics is about choice and is at the heart of all decision-making. Governments, businesses and individuals are all faced with making choices in situations where resources are scarce. As a result, Economics is applicable in a wide range of fields, including business, finance, administration, law, local and national government and, indeed, most aspects of everyday life. One of the strengths of Economics is that it provides a logical way of looking at a variety of issues. It is not just a subject - it is a way of thinking.

In studying Economics you will examine topics of obvious importance to human well-being, for example unemployment, economic growth, inflation, poverty, the distribution of income, and resource allocation in areas such as education, health, business and the environment.

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Contact details

Website: http://www.otago.ac.nz/economics

Email: economics@otago.ac.nz

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Qualifications

Papers

See the full list of Economics (ECON) papers .

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Programme Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Economics

LevelPapersPoints
100-level

BSNS 104  Principles of Economics 1

ECON 112  Principles of Economics 2

18

18

200-level

ECON 201  Microeconomics, or ECON 271  Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

ECON 202  Macroeconomics

One further 200-level ECON paper

18

18

18

300-levelFour 300-level ECON papers72
Plus

198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts

198
Total 360

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Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Economics

Papers

  • ECON 490  Econometric Methods and Dissertation,
    ECON 401  Advanced Economic Theory; and

  • Two of
    ECON 402  Growth, Institutions and Development,
    ECON 403  Monetary Economics,
    ECON 404  International Economics,
    ECON 405  The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice,
    ECON 406  Labour and Population Economics,
    ECON 407  Special Topics in Advanced Economics.

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 371  Microeconomic Theory,
    ECON 375  Econometrics,
    ECON 376  Macroeconomic Theory; and
    one further 300-level ECON paper; and
    18 further 300-level points.

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Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Economics

Papers

  • One of
    ECON 490  Econometric Methods and Dissertation,
    ECON 495  Econometric Methods and Thesis Preparation; and

  • Either three papers (if ECON 490 taken) or four papers (if ECON 495) taken from:
    ECON 401   Advanced Economic Theory,
    ECON 402  Growth, Institutions and Development,
    ECON 403  Monetary Economics,
    ECON 404   International Economics,
    ECON 405  The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice,
    ECON 406  Labour and Population Economics,
    ECON 407  Special Topic in Advanced Economics.

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 371  Microeconomic Theory,
    ECON 375  Econometrics,
    ECON 376  Macroeconomic Theory.

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Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics

LevelPapersPoints
100-level

BSNS 104  Principles of Economics 1

ECON 112  Principles of Economics 2

MATH 160  Mathematics 1

STAT 110  Statistical Methods

18

18

18

18

200-level

ECON 202  Macroeconomics

ECON 271  Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

ECON 210  Introduction to Econometrics, or ECON 270  Introduction to Mathematical Economics

18

18

18

300-level

Four 300-level ECON papers

72

Plus

162 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science

162
Total 360

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Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Economics

Papers

  • ECON 490  Econometric Methods and Dissertation,
    ECON 401  Advanced Economic Theory; and

  • Two of
    ECON 402  Growth, Institutions and Development,
    ECON 403   Monetary Economics,
    ECON 404  International Economics,
    ECON 405  The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice,
    ECON 406  Labour and Population Economics,
    ECON 407  Special Topic in Advanced Economics.

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 371  Microeconomic Theory,
    ECON 375  Econometrics,
    ECON 376   Macroeconomic Theory; and
    one further 300-level ECON paper; and
    18 further 300-level points.

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Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Economics

Papers

  • One of
    ECON 490  Econometric Methods and Dissertation,
    ECON 495  Econometric Methods and Thesis Preparation; and

  • Either three papers (if ECON 490 taken) or four papers (if ECON 495) taken from:
    ECON 401  Advanced Economic Theory
    ECON 402  Growth, Institutions and Development,
    ECON 403  Monetary Economics,
    ECON 404  International Economics,
    ECON 405  The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice,
    ECON 406  Labour and Population Economics,
    ECON 407  Special Topic in Advanced Economics.

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 371  Microeconomic Theory,
    ECON 375  Econometrics,
    ECON 376  Macroeconomic Theory.

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Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) majoring in Economics

Level Papers Points
100-level

BSNS 104  Principles of Economics 1

ECON 112  Principles of Economics 2

BSNS 102 Quantitative Analysis for Business, BSNS 103 Marketing and Consumption, BSNS 105 Management and Organisations, BSNS 106 Information and Communication in organisations, BSNS 107 Understanding Accounting, and BSNS 108 Business Finance, must normally be taken before enrolling in 300-level Commerce papers

18

18

108
200-level

ECON 201 Microeconomics, or ECON 271  Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

ECON 202  Macroeconomics

At least one further 200-level ECON paper

18

18

18
300-level Four 300-level ECON papers 72
Plus

90 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

May be taken from outside Commerce

 90
 

Every BCom programme must include BSNS 102-108. 100-level BSNS papers need not all be taken in the first year of study; all 100-level BSNS papers must normally be passed before enrolling in 300-level Commerce papers.

STAT 110 or STAT 115 will be accepted as an alternative to BSNS 102 as a required paper or as part of the major subject requirements or as a prerequisite when:
(a) the paper has been passed before the student has enrolled for a BCom degree; or
(b) a student is enrolling for both a BCom and another degree for which STAT 110 or STAT 115 is required.
Total   360

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Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons)) in Economics

Papers

  • ECON 490  Econometric Methods and Dissertation,
    ECON 401  Advanced Economic Theory;

  • Two of
    ECON 402  Growth, Institutions and Development,
    ECON 403   Monetary Economics,
    ECON 404  International Economics,
    ECON 405  The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice,
    ECON 406  Labour and Population Economics,
    ECON 407  Special Topic in Advanced Economics.

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 371  Microeconomic Theory,
    ECON 375  Econometrics,
    ECON 376  Macroeconomic Theory; and
    one further 300-level ECON paper; and
    18 further 300-level points.

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Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom) in Economics

Papers

  • One of
    ECON 490  Econometric Methods and Dissertation,
    ECON 495  Econometric Methods and Thesis Preparation; and

  • Either three papers (if ECON 490 taken) or four papers (if ECON 495) taken from:
    ECON 401  Advanced Economic Theory,
    ECON 402  Growth, Institutions and Development,
    ECON 403  Monetary Economics,
    ECON 404  International Economics,
    ECON 405  The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice,
    ECON 406  Labour and Population Economics,
    ECON 407  Special Topic in Advanced Economics.

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 371  Microeconomic Theory,
    ECON 375  Econometrics,
    ECON 376  Macroeconomic Theory.

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Master of Business (MBus) in Economics

Papers

  • ECON 495  Econometric Methods and Thesis Preparation; and

  • Four of:
    ECON 401 Advanced Economic Theory,
    ECON 402 Growth, Institutions and Development,
    ECON 403 Monetary Economics,
    ECON 404 International Economics,
    ECON 405 The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice,
    ECON 406 Labour and Population Economics,
    ECON 407 Special Topic in Advanced Economics; and

  • ECON 5A (thesis, 96 points)

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Minor Subject Requirements

Economics as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc) or Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree

Level Papers Points
100-level

BSNS 104  Principles of Economics 1

ECON 112  Principles of Economics 2

18

18
200-level

Two 200-level ECON papers, including at least one of
ECON 201 Microeconomics,
ECON 202 Macroeconomics,
ECON 271 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory.

 36
300-level One 300-level ECON paper

18
Total   90

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