ECON 309 Research Project, Step 4
Due April 28, 2022 by 11:59 PM Victoria, B.C. time
TO BE SUBMITTED VIA BRIGHTSPACE, AS USUAL
BECAUSE THIS IS SCHEDULED AS A FINAL EXAM, ABSOLUTELY NO EXTENSIONS, EVEN BY ONE MINUTE, ARE AVAILABLE: PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
PROJECTS WILL BE MARKED AS SUBMITTED. NO EXCEPTIONS. CHECK YOUR FILE UPLOADS!
By submitting this assignment, you agree to the honor code. If you do not agree to the honor code, do not submit your assignment (this will lead to a mark of zero on Step 4, but you do not need to pass or submit Step 4 to pass the course). By agreeing to the honor code, you understand that any violation of the honor code may lead to penalties including but not limited to a non-negotiable mark of zero on the assignment or the entire course:
Honor Code: I guarantee that all the answers in this assignment are my own work. I have cited any outside sources that I used to create these answers.
Your Name (as listed on your student card): _______________________________
Marking scheme – Make sure you answer all the questions before handing this in!
Question
Out of
Q1
a
75
b
75
c
75
Total (Average)
75
Q2
a
5
b
5
c
5
Total
15
Communication
10
Total
100
Table of Contents
ECON 309 Research Project, Step 4 1
Question 1: (Regular) All together now 2
1.a Step 1 – Background 3
1.b Step 2 – Theory of harm 4
1.c Step 3 – Remedy 5
Question 2: (Challenge) The course & your research 6
2.a What was most helpful? 6
2.b How would this affect Step 2 (Theory of harm)? 7
2.c How would this affect Step 3 (Remedy)? 8
Question 1: (Regular) All together now
Summarize your project so far, for me. If you want to, you can copy-paste from YOUR previous projects (Background, Sketch 1, Sketch 2). You can also write completely new answers. If you DO copy-paste from your previous projects, let me know by writing (for example) “Part of this answer is copied from my background project,” or “All of this answer is copied from my Sketch 1”.
You can do this! You’ve learned a lot this term, and I believe in you.
( 你一定会成功的.我相信你.)
1.a Step 1 – Background
Briefly, what is the situation you’re studying? For full marks, after reading your background I should know what the competition policy issue is, who the players involved are (firms, consumers, etc.), what the firms are doing that’s potentially “bad” (or “good”), and why the firms are acting this way.
[Write your answer here in 5 to 750 words, and cite any sources used to obtain information in your witeup, in APA format, as usual.]
1.b Step 2 – Theory of harm
Briefly explain the following. What is the relevant theory of harm for this project? Who is hurt, and it what way? Who benefits, and in what way? Why is this happening (why are the companies, etc. acting in this harmful way, and what allows them to get away with it)? For full marks, you should show that you understand the economics of the situation. For most students, this will include talking about surplus (total, consumer, producer). You’re allowed to include math and diagrams, if you feel they help your explanation.
[Write your answer here in 5 to 750 words, plus (optionally) any math & diagrams you feel are necessary to make your point. Cite any sources in APA format, if necessary. (You don’t need to cite my lecture notes in APA format, but if you DO use material from the lectures, I’d appreciate it if you’d add notes like ‘As shown in Lecture 3, slide 5’.)]
1.c Step 3 – Remedy
Briefly explain the following. What is your suggested remedy for the situation? How would your remedy help? Is it possible that your remedy would have some negative effects? If so, what are they? For full marks, you should show that you understand the economics of the situation. For most students, this will include talking about surplus (total, consumer, producer). You’re allowed to include math and diagrams, if you feel they help your explanation.
[Write your answer here in 5 to 750 words, plus (optionally) any math & diagrams you feel are necessary to make your point. Cite any sources in APA format, if necessary. (You don’t need to cite my lecture notes in APA format, but if you DO use material from the lectures, I’d appreciate it if you’d add notes like ‘As shown in Lecture 3, slide 5’.)]
Question 2: (Challenge) The course & your research
You had to write Steps 1-3 while the course was still in progress, before we’d covered a lot of the material that would have helped you with your research. This question asks you to tell me what you would have done if you had time to go back to them, after the end of lectures.
2.a What was most helpful?
Which of the lecture(s), readings or assignments in the course are the most helpful for understanding the situation you were studying in your research project? Briefly explain why. (For example, if you were studying a perfectly competitive industry, Lecture 3 and 4, on perfect competition, would be the most helpful).
[Write your answer here in 5 to 500 words]
2.b How would this affect Step 2 (Theory of harm)?
If you had time to thoroughly study and absorb the material from those lectures, how would that affect your analysis in Sketch 1? Remember that Step 2 asked you about the theory of harm, effect on consumer/producer/total surplus, and possible benefits. You were asked to draw diagrams illustrating those situations, and if possible, quantify – attach real-world numbers to – your results. (For example: If you were studying a perfectly competitive industry, after seeing how the lectures on perfect competition based the analysis on the availability of substitutes and outside options, you could re-focus your analysis to see what might limit the availability or suitability of substitutes or outside options, etc.)
[Write your answer here in 5 to 500 words]
2.c How would this affect Step 3 (Remedy)?
If you had time to thoroughly study and absorb the material from those lectures, how would that affect your analysis in Step 3? Remember that, among other things, Step 3 asked you to suggest a remedy, explain how it would help reduce harm, and consider whether it would create any new problems. You were also challenged to draw a diagram illustrating the effects of your remedy.
[Write your answer here in 5 to 500 words]
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