POLS20031 Political Economy
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 2.5 class hours a week
Is POLS20031 hard?
POLS20031: Easier. Makes it easier: No final exam, Only 2.5 class hours a week. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
How politics and economics shape each other, through issues like inequality, trade, financial crises, climate and the rise of China.
After it you can
- Use political economy theories on current issues
- Explain the politics behind trade, tax and inequality
- Analyse the causes and effects of financial crises
What you need first
None
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Participation 10%, Quizzes 10%, Presentations 15%, Tests 35%, Reports and essays 30%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 5 students on StudentVIP (2015–2021)
- Explores links between politics, economics and inequality. Reviewers found it thought-provoking, with no maths and little straight economic theory, though it can be dry.
- Students without economics background found the terminology hard at first; keeping up with readings helps. Assessments let you focus on the parts you find most interesting.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate POLS20031
Quick answers
- When is POLS20031 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking POLS20031?
- No prerequisites.
- Does POLS20031 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Participation 10%, Quizzes 10%, Presentations 15%, Tests 35%, Reports and essays 30%.
- Is POLS20031 hard?
- From 5 student reviews on StudentVIP: Explores links between politics, economics and inequality. Reviewers found it thought-provoking, with no maths and little straight economic theory, though it can be dry.
- What do students say about POLS20031?
- Explores links between politics, economics and inequality. Reviewers found it thought-provoking, with no maths and little straight economic theory, though it can be dry. Students without economics background found the terminology hard at first; keeping up with readings helps. Assessments let you focus on the parts you find most interesting.
- How many class hours a week does POLS20031 have?
- 2.5 h a week in class
- Can I take POLS20031 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after POLS20031?
- 2 subjects need it first, for example POLS30001, POLS30003.
- Can I rate POLS20031?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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