Economics provides a framework for thinking about almost everything.
Economics is about choice and is at the heart of decision making. Governments, businesses and individuals are all faced with making choices in situations where resources are scarce.
Not just a subject, but a way of thinking, Economics applies to business, finance, administration, law, local and national government, and most aspects of everyday life. It provides a logical way of looking at a variety of issues.
Economics examines topics important to human well-being such as unemployment, economic growth, inflation, poverty, distribution of income, and resource allocation in areas such as education, health, business and the environment.
Why study Economics?
Economics is an exciting, dynamic, contemporary field. Economics affects everyone and applies to a range of disciplines including business, politics, history, law, health sciences and biotechnology. It deals with unemployment, economic growth, inflation, poverty, income, resource allocation, the environment, and international trade. You name the field, Economics plays a part.
Studying Economics teaches you how to examine people’s ideas and come to your own soundly-based conclusions. No matter what career you’re aspiring to, you will find Economics invaluable.
Teaching style
Each paper is taught in a lecture format and most papers include weekly tutorials where you’ll have the opportunity to discuss the lecture topics in more detail. Just like at secondary school, assessment will include assignments, tests, essays and e
Career opportunities
Graduates work in large industrial and commercial firms and many different branches of the public sector, including:
- Ministries of Economic Development, Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Health
- Reserve Bank
- Treasury
- Statistics New Zealand
- Departments of Labour and Internal Affairs
- local government and planning authorities
- banks and financial institutions
Some work with health providers, research bureau and management consultancies, while others have careers in universities, other tertiary institutions and secondary schools.
Background required
There are no prerequisite subjects to study Economics – you don’t even have to have studied Economics at school. However, you might find English, Mathematics or Statistics useful subjects to study – especially if you want to major in Economics.
Qualifications
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
- Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
- Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons))
- Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
- Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
- Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
- Master of Commerce (MCom)
- Master of Economics (MEcon)
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Economics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy ECON 112 Principles of Macroeconomics | 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-level | Four 300-level ECON papers | 72 |
| 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 |
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Economics
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Economics or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Economics must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Economics prior to undertaking the thesis. |
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) majoring in Economics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy ECON 112 Principles of Macroeconomics BSNS 111 Business and Society, BSNS 112 Interpreting Business Data, BSNS 114 Financial Decision Making, BSNS 115 Accounting and Information Systems – must normally be taken in first year of study | 18 18 72 |
| 200-level | ECON 201 Microeconomics, or ECON 271 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory ECON 202 Macroeconomics One further 200-level ECON paper | 18 18 18 |
| 300-level | Four 300-level ECON papers | 72 |
| Plus | 126 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Commerce. | 126 |
Every programme must include BSNS 111-115. At least three of these papers must be passed before enrolling in any 200-level Commerce paper, and all must be passed before enrolling in any 300-level Commerce paper. For single-degree BCom students, all five must be attempted in the first year of study or equivalent. STAT 110 or STAT 115 will be accepted as an alternative to BSNS 112 as a required paper or as part of the major subject requirements or as a prerequisite when: | ||
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Commerce with Honours (BCom(Hons)) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Master of Commerce (MCom) in Economics
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: The MCom in Economics can be pursued by a combination of papers and thesis, or by thesis only. Students who have a good Bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification) will complete the MCom by papers and thesis (at least two years' full-time study). The first year consists of a selection of papers worth 144 points, leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce (PGDipCom). Students who have a good Honours degree or a PGDipCom (or equivalent qualification) can complete an MCom by thesis only (minimum one year). |
Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy ECON 112 Principles of Macroeconomics MATH 160 Mathematics 1 STAT 110 Statistical Methods | 18 18 18 18 |
| 200-level | ECON 202 Macroeconomics ECON 210 Introduction to Econometrics ECON 271 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | 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 |
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
Prerequisites: |
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Economics
| Papers |
|---|
|
Master of Science (MSc) in Economics
| Papers and Thesis |
|---|
Minor subject requirements
Economics as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy ECON 112 Principles of Macroeconomics | 18 18 |
| 200-level | Two 200-level ECON papers, including at least one of: | 36 |
| 300-level | One 300-level ECON paper | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
Papers
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a selection of on-campus papers will be made available via distance and online learning for eligible students.
Find out which papers are available and how to apply on our COVID-19 website
| Paper code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON112 | 2021 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON201 | 2021 | Microeconomics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON202 | 2021 | Macroeconomics | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON206 | 2021 | The World Economy | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON207 | 2021 | Environmental Economics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON210 | 2021 | Introduction to Econometrics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON271 | 2021 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON301 | 2021 | Labour Economics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON302 | 2021 | International Trade | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON303 | 2021 | Economics of Developing Countries | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON306 | 2021 | Economics of Health and Education | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON308 | 2021 | Public Economics | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| ECON316 | 2021 | Open Economy Macroeconomics | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| ECON317 | 2021 | Urban and Regional Economics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON318 | 2021 | Behavioural Economics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON319 | 2021 | Game Theory | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON350 | 2021 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| ECON351 | 2021 | Special Topic: Economics of Households and Wellbeing | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON371 | 2021 | Microeconomic Theory | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON375 | 2021 | Econometrics | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON376 | 2021 | Macroeconomic Theory | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON377 | 2021 | Mathematical Economics | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON402 | 2021 | Growth, Institutions and Development | 20 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| ECON403 | 2021 | Monetary Economics | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON404 | 2021 | International Economics | 20 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| ECON405 | 2021 | The Economics of Natural Resources and Public Choice | 20 points | Not offered in 2021 |
| ECON406 | 2021 | Labour and Population Economics | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON407 | 2021 | Topics in Advanced Economics | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON410 | 2021 | Advanced Microeconomic Theory | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| ECON411 | 2021 | Advanced Macroeconomic Theory | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON412 | 2021 | Macroeconometrics | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON413 | 2021 | Microeconometrics | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| ECON480 | 2021 | Dissertation | 40 points | Full Year |
| ECON485 | 2021 | Master's Thesis Preparation | 20 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year |
| ECON492 | 2021 | Dissertation for Philosophy, Politics and Economics | 60 points | Full Year |
| ECON580 | 2021 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period, 3rd Non standard period |
Key information for future students
Contact us
Department of Economics
Otago Business School
Email economics@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/economics
