OBJECTIVE:
To discuss the effects of a contemporary microeconomic topic upon businesses and consumers. This topic could have arisen from a particular government or central bank policy decision, from an internal management policy or decision aimed at increasing the competitive capability of a firm or business organisation, or as a result of a cyclical event in the national or global economies.
The focus of the assignment has to be a specific microeconomic issue and its business and/or consumer impacts and responses, not a lengthy description of general microeconomic theory that does not relate directly to the issue itself.

STEPS IN THE ASSIGNMENT:
1. Choose a particular contemporary microeconomic topic. The chosen top could be one from the list below or another of the student's own choice. International students can choose a microeconomic issue taken in their home country if they wish.

2. Discuss the topic in terms of its effects upon businesses, consumers or a particular firm, including how the affected parties have responded, or plan to respond.

3. The length of the assignment should be no more than 2,500 words, plus a list of references and any appendices at the end.

4. Structure of the assignment should be based around the following headings:

Executive Summary - this will be the first page and will be a summary of the key points in the main body of the assignment that follows. Hence the Executive Summary should be written last, as it does not contain any new material but merely summarises the key points about what is already written.

Introduction and Background – including a description of the microeconomic topic, the sectors of the economy (firms, businesses and/or consumers) impacted by the topic, how they are impacted in terms of such things as profitability, capital investment, production, consumption, risks to business operations etc.

Evaluation of Business or Consumer Response – including a description of how the affected sectors of the economy have responded, whether or not their response has achieved the outcomes intended and whether there were any unintended consequences arising from their response.

Conclusion – stating whether or not, on balance, the business or consumer response could be regarded as reasonable in the circumstances (include reasons), what short term benefits or harm to the business or economy resulted, and a conclusion as to whether or not longer term benefits or harm to the business or economy might be expected in future as a result of their response.

References – list all references used in the assignment, and cite them correctly using the Harvard Referencing System. All references listed must be referred to somewhere in the assignment.

Appendices - attach any supporting tables, graphs, and press releases etc. as appendices at the end. All appendices attached must be referred to somewhere in the assignment.




Suggested Topic:
- Hotel Industry of any particular country or state.















INFORMATION SOURCES INCLUDE:
Relevant websites such as those belonging to relevant companies and businesses, business and consumer groups, and government departments and agencies.

Media articles relevant to the chosen policy decision in publications such as the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Business Review Weekly (BRW), Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) updates and the website.

Other relevant articles referred to in the session (lecture) notes.

PLAGIARISM:
Students are reminded of the importance of acknowledging and correctly referencing any written material used in their reports. The report should be written in the student's own words as far as possible. Where wording from an external source is being quoted directly, it is essential that this wording be indicated by quotes (“.”) and referenced correctly so that the marker can readily locate it.
Any external material quoted word for word without correct referencing is tantamount to plagiarism and would result in the assignment not being marked. Where there is evidence of some plagiarism, the assignment would need to be re-submitted with the relevant text either re-written or correctly acknowledged. A re-submitted assignment would only be graded as a 'pass' or 'fail'.
If you need to clarify any aspects of CDU policy on plagiarism please refer to the CDU Website or discuss with the lecturer.