Overview
This course discusses the basic economics tools required to evaluate government policies for expenditures on health care, public pensions, Employment Insurance, education, and social welfare programs. The course has been divided into two parts. The first part (units 1–3; lessons 1–8) addresses the common causes of market failure as well as the ways in which government can intervene to correct such failures. Emphasis is placed on the theory of public choice, cost-benefit analysis, externalities, and income distribution. The second part of the course (units 4–5; lessons 9–13) addresses how the tools discussed in the first part can be applied to evaluate social insurance and social welfare policies.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to do the following:
- describe the economic theories relating to the structure of institutions at various levels of government in Canada
- discuss the basic economic functions of government, including the fiscal federation, fiscal equalization grants, and capital transfers
- explain the concept of a perfectly competitive market structure and how markets allocate society’s resources
- explain the causes of market failure and the need for government intervention to find solutions for market failure
- evaluate the effects of various government expenditures and transfer programs on the efficiency of the Canadian economy as well as on income distribution
Evaluation
Your final grade in ECON 380 will be based on three written assignments and one comprehensive essay assignment. To receive credit for this course, you must achieve an overall course grade of 50 percent.
The following table summarizes the weight that will be applied to each assessment activity in determining your final grade.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 22% |
| Assignment 2 | 22% |
| Assignment 3 | 22% |
| Assignment 4 | 34% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Rosen, H. S., Gayer, T., Tedds, L., & Tombe, T. (2023). Public finance in Canada (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Ryerson. ISBN 9781265255466
Other Resources
All other learning resources will be available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the ECON 380 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
Challenge for credit course registration form