Executive Education Beginner's guide to economics for the public sector series

Beginner’s guide to microeconomics for the public sector (Weeks 1-2)

Should we promote competition? What taxes should be used to raise government revenue? How can economics help to reduce traffic congestion? Should we price carbon? If you have ever wondered what economists really mean when they use microeconomic concepts, this course is for you. In this course, you will learn basic concepts of microeconomics including trade-offs, opportunity cost, supply and demand, taxes and subsidies, public goods, externalities, market failure, as well as competition, monopolies and regulation.

Key topics include:

Key insights and introduction to the economic way of thinking
Markets and prices: demand, supply and elasticities
Government intervention: price controls
Government intervention: taxes
Government intervention: market failure, externalities and public goods
Summary: role of government

Beginner’s guide to macroeconomics for the public sector (Weeks 3-5)

This course revisits the fundamentals of macroeconomics and provides a framework for understanding how the economy works, including financial systems, labor markets, product markets, and the role of government in stabilizing the economy.

There is no math or equations. The course is taught through practical case studies, focusing on real-world challenges to build understanding.

Key topics include:

The role of Australia in the global economy and the importance of trade.
Macroeconomic statistics such as GDP and inflation.
The role of institutions like the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The relationship between economic growth, environmental sustainability, productivity, and innovation.
Government’s role in stabilizing the economy.

At a glance

Format: Online

Duration: 5 weeks (excluding orientation)

Commitment: 3-5 hours per week

Cost: $2,495 (or $2,195 for early bird registrations by 10 May)

Start/end date: 10 June - 10 July 2025 with a course orientation / meet and greet on 3 June

Group discounts available.

Testimonials

The presenter was superb. Paul delivered first-class lectures and provided a high level of interactivity in live sessions, as well as ensuring understanding of concepts before advancing. Fascinating readings and practical case studies further enhanced the experience.

This was one of the best courses I've participated in. Adam made it very easy to follow often complex macro economic concepts for those of us without an economics background. I learnt a lot in an efficient timeframe, and much of it is directly relevant to my work.

Real-world Application

Course participants will develop an understanding of the key insights from economics and how they can be applied in policy and government settings.

Course curriculum

Beginner’s guide to microeconomics for the public sector (Weeks 1-2)

Module 1 Introductory microeconomics concepts
Module 2 Supply, demand, and elasticities
Module 3 Externalities and market structure
Module 4 Government intervention

Beginner’s guide to macroeconomics for the public sector (Weeks 3-5)

Module 1 The whole story: Macroeconomics and the Australian economy
Module 2 The labour market and the market for loanable funds
Module 3 The government and the economy: Monetary policy, fiscal policy, and structural reform
Module 4 The economy in the long-term
Module 5 The future of macroeconomics, the Australian economy and the world (expert panel discussion)

Session schedule

This course will run as an online and distance program in 2025. It is scheduled to run across five weeks, 10 June - 10 July 2025 with a course orientation / meet and greet on 3 June. Specific dates and times to note in your diary are as follows:

1pm-2pm Tuesday 3 June 2025 – course introduction/meet and greet session
1pm-2:30pm Tuesday 10 June 2025 - Microeconomics session 1
1pm-2:30pm Thursday 12 June 2025 - Microeconomics session 2
1pm-2:30pm Tuesday 17 June 2025 - Microeconomics session 3
1pm-2:30pm Thursday 19 June 2025 - Microeconomics session 4
1pm-2:30pm Thursday 26 June 2025 - Macroeconomics session 1
1pm-2:30pm Thursday 3 July 2025 - Macroeconomics session 2
1pm-2pm Thursday 10 July 2025 - Macroeconomics session 3

Note: Dates and times are in Canberra time (AEST). The calendar invite for each session should automatically adjust to your timezone when you add it to your calendar. You can check at a site like this to be sure.

Register Now

Learning outcomes

Beginner’s guide to microeconomics for the public sector (Weeks 1-2)

Understand key microeconomic concepts
Develop the ability to analyse applied case studies in microeconomics
Understand key tools for the analysis of competitive markets
Develop skills in applying the supply/demand framework to real-world settings
Gain an understanding for why markets may not perform as well as desired
Apply microeconomics concepts to real-world cases
Gain an understanding of the role of government in addressing microeconomic issues
Critically analyse government interventions

Beginner's guide to macroeconomics for the public sector (Weeks 3-5)

Understanding of macroeconomic concepts such as economic output, productivity, inflation, foreign investment, and trade
Application of macroeconomic statistics used by governments and media, including GDP and inflation
Analysing the role of government in economic stabilisation and setting conditions for long-term growth in living standards
Developing a framework for thinking about economic challenges through practical case studies

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for individuals at any level of their career who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of basic economics and its useful application to policy issues.

This course is designed for those with no economic background.

Presenter

Prof Paul Burke

Paul Burke is a Professor and Head of the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University. His research is in energy and environmental economics, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific.

Paul has published in journals including the American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, Economic Inquiry, Nature Geoscience, Nature Climate Change, Energy, and Global Environmental Change. His ongoing research topics include electric vehicle adoption, residential electrification, small hydropower in Indonesia, and tax reform in Australia.

Presenter

Dr Adam Triggs

Dr Adam Triggs is the senior manager in the Canberra office of the economics consulting firm, Alphabeta, and is a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC. He holds bachelors degrees in law and economics, a masters degree in international economics and a PhD in economics from the Australian National University.

Online training: How it works

This is a real-time, date-specific course, in which you will join live classes, engage and connect with experts, other course participants and the Executive Education team. Here’s how it works:

Pre-course live session. This is an opportunity for you to grab a cuppa and join our meet and greet before the course commences.
Practice + Study. Set aside up to 2 hours per day – this time commitment will vary depending on how deeply you choose to engage with the material. It is up to you.
Course pack. Each participant will receive a carefully curated workbook, which includes everything you need to guide you through the course.
Live sessions with presenter. This is a specified date and time for you to come together with the presenter and other participants to consolidate your learning.
Post-course. On completion of the course, you will receive your post-course resources for your reference and further learning.

Why choose online training?

No time off work – study and practice when you can.
Busy schedule? No problem, you can go at your own pace, join just the live classes, and do the course work whenever suits you best. We know that work and family obligations can be overwhelming. Mix and match the schedule to fit your life.
No travel. This is a course right at your fingertips. With no travel expenses, this is a very affordable option for high-level training with world-leading experts.
Live interaction with world-leading experts. You’ll have direct access to all the best resources and trainers.
Working remotely? With the online and distance format, we welcome participants from around the world to join us.

FAQs

What if I can’t make a live session? No problem, we understand you are busy. Live sessions are recorded for you to catch up in your own time.

What if I’m in a different time zone? All advertised course times from 6th October 2024 to 6th April 2025 are scheduled in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) otherwise known as GMT+11. From 6th April 2025 scheduled times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) or GMT+10. Convert for your time zone here.

What if I am not tech savvy? As long as you have access to a phone or computer, you will have no problems. Our online courses require a working laptop, desktop or smart device with good internet connection. Bring your headset. Join the tech-check session for support and insider tips.

I would like to purchase multiple courses, are there any discounts available? Yes, discount offers are available if you would like to book multiple courses throughout the year. You may contact us to discuss further options.

I work for a company or organisation that would like to enrol multiple employees in the same time. Is it possible? Yes, discounted rates are available for groups attending from the same organisation. Get in touch with us if you want to register as a group.

Can’t find the answers are you looking for? Contact our team for support at csee@anu.edu.au.

Related programs

Take a closer at the Graduate Certificate of Asia-Pacific Economies

Master of International Development & Economics

Take a closer look at our Master of International and Development Economics

Interested in registering?

Email us now to register

Check our FAQs

Take a look at our full course list