Industrial Organisation studies the interdependence of market structures, firm’s conducts, and market outcomes. We look at how market structures affects firms conduct and market outcomes. In this course, students will be introduced to the theory of the firms, imperfect competition, oligopoly theory, and other strategic behaviours. Some applications on competition policy and regulation will also be introduced if time permits.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- In addition to the outcomes achieved by taking the pass lectures in this subject, graduate students will:
- cover some of the same material using more formal analysis;
- be introduced to the academic literature in the IO field;
Research-Led Teaching
Industrial Organisation (IO) studies the interdependence of market structures, firms’ conducts, and market outcomes. In this course, we focus on the theory of the firms, imperfect competition, oligopoly theory, and other strategic behaviours. In addition to classic IO models, we will also introduce new research in the area.
Examination Material or equipment
Examinations are delivered online through Wattle and invigilated via Zoom. Please ensure that you have a computer with internet access and a webcam. Limited numbers of computer stations may be available on campus.
Recommended Resources
The main textbook is Belleflamme, P. and M. Peitz (2015) Industrial Organization Markets and Strategies, Cambridge, 2nd Edition. This textbook has print and ebook versions available for purchase in ANU bookshop and online sites such as Booktopia and Amazon. The book is available at the Chifley library and through the library's ProQuest Ebook Central (first edition).
https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.virtual.anu.edu.au/lib/anu/detail.action?docID=542806
We will also refer to the following book:
Church, Jeffrey and Roger Ware (2000) Industrial Organization. A strategic approach. Irwin McGraw-Hill.
The first edition of the book is available freely online at
https://works.bepress.com/jeffrey_church/23
Other references will be provided as we progress in the semester.
Staff Feedback
Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:- Written comments
- Verbal comments
- Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.Class Schedule
Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
---|---|---|
1 | Markets and strategies | |
2 | Game theory | |
3 | Price and quantity competition | |
4 | Sequential choice | Exercise 1 due |
5 | Product differentiation | |
6 | Price discrimination | Quiz 1 |
7 | Menu pricing | |
8 | Intertemporal price discrimination | Exercise 2 due |
9 | Bundling | |
10 | Cartels and tacit collusion | Quiz 2 |
11 | Horizontal mergers | |
12 | Review |
Tutorial Registration
Tutorials this semester will be delivered both remotely (via Zoom) and on-campus. You are expected to attend one tutorial each week from Week 2 onwards. You must enrol in a tutorial using the Wattle site for this course, and attend the tutorial in which you are enrolled. A selection of tutorials will be open for enrolment prior to the beginning of the semester - the remaining tutorials will be open in week 1 of Semester.?When tutorials are available for enrolment, follow these steps:
1. Log on to Wattle, and go to the course site
2. Click on the link “Tutorial enrolment”
3. On the right of the screen, click on the tab “Become Member of…..” for the tutorial class you wish to enter
4. Confirm your choice
If you need to change your enrolment, you will be able to do so by clicking on the tab “Leave group….” and then re-enrol in another group.?You will not be able to enrol in groups that have reached their maximum number.?Please note that enrolment in ISIS must be finalised for you to have access to Wattle.
Assessment Summary
Assessment task | Value | Due Date | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Exercise 1 - maximum 5% | 5 % | 18/03/2022 | 1, 2, 3 |
Quiz 1 -- maximum 15% | 15 % | 30/03/2022 | 1, 2, 3 |
Exercise 2 -- maximum 5% | 5 % | 29/04/2022 | 1, 2, 3 |
Quiz 2 -- maximum 15% | 15 % | 11/05/2022 | 1, 2, 3 |
Final Examination - minimum 60% | 60 % | * | 1, 2, 3 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.Participation
Due to travel restrictions this course will be largely delivered through online platforms. The lectures will be pre-recorded. Most tutorials are held on campus with livestream/dual delivery. There are on-campus workshops (with Echo360 recording) as well.
Attendance at tutorials and if feasible, workshops, while not compulsory, is expected in line with “Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning”, clause 2 paragraph (b).
Examination(s)
Examinations will conducted online through Wattle. The examinations will be supervised through Zoom.
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Exercise 1 - maximum 5%
Exercise 1 will be administered via Wattle. The assessment items will consist of multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, and/or problem sets. Exercise 1 will be available to students on week 3 Friday and is due on week 4 Friday. Feedback will be provided within 2 weeks. This exercise is fully redeemable and optional. If students do not complete this exercise or perform better in the final exam, the 5% mark will be allocated to the final exam.
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Quiz 1 -- maximum 15%
Quiz 1 is scheduled on March 30th Wednesday (week 6) from 3 pm to 4:20 pm. The total quiz duration is 80 minutes: 55 minutes writing time and 25 minutes scanning and uploading time. This quiz will be administered through Wattle and supervised via Zoom. Students will receive feedback in week 7. This quiz is fully redeemable and optional. If students do not complete this exercise or perform better in the final exam, the 15% mark will be allocated to the final exam.
Assessment Task 3
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Exercise 2 -- maximum 5%
Exercise 2 will be administered via Wattle. The assessment items will consist of multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, and/or problem sets. Exercise 2 will be available to students on week 7 Friday and is due on week 8 Friday. Feedback will be provided within 2 weeks. This exercise is fully redeemable and optional. If students do not complete this exercise or perform better in the final exam, the 5% mark will be allocated to the final exam.
Assessment Task 4
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Quiz 2 -- maximum 15%
Quiz 2 is scheduled on May 11th Wednesday (week 10) from 3 pm to 4:20 pm. The total quiz duration is 80 minutes: 55 minutes writing time and 25 minutes scanning and uploading time. This quiz will be administered through Wattle and supervised via Zoom. The assessment items will consist of multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, and/or problem sets. Students will receive feedback as soon as feasible. This quiz is fully redeemable and optional. If students do not complete this exercise or perform better in the final exam, the 15% mark will be allocated to the final exam.
Assessment Task 5
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Final Examination - minimum 60%
The final exam will be scheduled during the end-of-semester examination period. This final exam will be administered through Wattle and supervised via Zoom. The total time duration is 180 minutes. The assessment items will consist of multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, and/or problem sets. The final exam will be comprehensive and will cover all the topics discussed during the semester. More details on the final exam will be available in week 10.
The minimum weight on the final exam is 60% and can count up to 100%, depending on students' performance in other assessment items.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.Online Submission
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.Hardcopy Submission
For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.Late Submission
No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
Referencing Requirements
Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
- PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students
Convener
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Research InterestsIndustrial Organisation |
Dr Tina Kao
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Instructor
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Research Interests |
Dr Tina Kao
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