LB5229-Economics for a Sustainable World

Description:

This subject uses insights from the fields of ecological economics and natural resource economics to consider some of the problems associated with the management of a variety of different natural resources. It discusses common economic theories and analytical tools with a focus on understanding arising real world complications when attempting to manage these resources in a complex socio-ecological system. The subject is a core requirement for MBA and MPA courses. 

Learning Outcomes

1. critically evaluate the models and the likely effectiveness of different policy/management interventions in a range of different socio-political contexts

2. apply a range of different models to evaluate the use of different types of natural resources and how they help identify problems that are, or are not, likely to arise in their management

3. synthesise the models to predict whether the use of different resources is likely to be sustainable, and evaluate management/policy interventions that seek to ameliorate any potential problems. 

Assessment Task

Produce a business study report. The report needs to contain the following four parts plus a formal introduction to your report and a conclusion.

1) Introduction to the business and general business environment 

Select an Australian business from the list of ASX Companies (The list is provided on LearnJCU. Each company can only be used by one student. First in first served. Record your name and student number in the columns as indicated). Provide an overall description of the business and the competitive environment in which it operates. You may provide information about the business as suggested below plus any other information peculiar to the business you choose.

a) Name and location of the business, the type of business (e.g. retail, manufacturing);

b) What the business produces or sells; c) Who the main customers are (e.g. other businesses, government departments, young girls, older men);

d) Where most of the customers are located (e.g. in Townsville, Brisbane, or on the internet);

e) Who the main competitors are (i.e. those producing similar products, and selling to similar customer base); f) Where the competitors are located; and

g) The (approximate) market share of key competitors including your business (e.g. ’your’ businesses has approximately 10% of the market, your main competitor has approximately 50% of the market, and many other small businesses share the remaining 40% of the market).

Given the above information, comment on whether or not you think the competitive environment in which the firm operates is likely to be closer to (a) perfect competition; or (b) monopoly. Comment also on the number of ‘close substitutes’ for the business’ products, and the cost of the product relative to ‘average’ income of its customers. Does this mean that the demand curve facing the firm is likely to be relatively elastic or relatively inelastic? What does this imply about the ability of the firm to ‘mark up’ its price above marginal cost?

2) Production costs and scale

Provide a description of the required factors of production, grouping them according to whether the factors of production are:

a) Fixed and hence unlikely to vary much according to the quantity of goods produced or sold; or

b) Variable and hence likely to increase with increased production or sales.

Use the above information to comment on the likely overall cost structure of your business. For example: are fixed costs large or small relative to variable costs? Does this mean that the firm’s ‘optimal’ size is likely to be small, medium or large?

3) Macro business environment

Provide a description of the macroeconomic environment in which the business operates noting

a) The overall ‘stability’ of the political system/government of the country in which the business operates.

b) The general level of inflation, unemployment and ‘average’ interest rate of the country in which the business is physically located (and also the countries in which most customers live if different from the location of the firm). Discuss any recent changes in those variables. Does the economy seem to be in a recession, boom or otherwise?

c) If ‘your’ business exports its products to other countries, provide some information about the (currency) exchange rate, discussing its current level, and recent changes in it.

Use the above information to comment on whether or not the overall macroeconomic conditions faced by the firm are likely to become more or less favourable over the coming years. In this part you should consider such things as: 

• Whether the main products are likely to be ‘normal’ or ‘inferior’ and hence whether demand is likely to rise or fall during recessions and thus whether the economic climate of the countries in which most of the business’ customers live is likely to reflect well or poorly on the business’ sales.

• Whether the business is likely to face problems getting access to key factors of production (e.g. are there skills shortages?), and whether this is likely to affect the business’ future operating costs.

• If the business exports its products or imports factors of production…are recent trends in exchange rates likely to be good or bad for costs and/or revenues. 

4) Sustainability practice of the business

a) Does the production process of the business generate any positive or negative externalities? If negative, has the government (or anyone else) put in place any measures to mitigate? What is done to mitigate by the business? If positive, what is done to take advantage of it?

b) Does the consumption of the good produced by the business generate any positive or negative externalities? If negative, has the government (or anyone else) put in place any measures to mitigate? What is done to mitigate by the business? If positive, what is done to take advantage of it? 

Use the information from above to comment on how the sustainability practice by this business and other businesses in the same industry would affect their long-term business viability.